British RAF Typhoon jets and French fighter aircraft carried out a joint strike on January 3, 2026, destroying an ISIS underground weapons facility near Palmyra, Syria, using precision-guided Paveway IV bombs with no civilian casualties reported.

‘Joint operation’: ISIS underground site and weapons destroyed by British and French fighter jets

<p>The Syrian army backed by Russian jets has completed the recapture of the iconic ancient city of Palmyra from the Islamic State group, the Kremlin said Thursday.</p>

<p>Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu informed President Vladimir Putin of the completion of the operation, spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Islamic State group fighters withdrew from much of the Syrian oasis city of Palmyra overnight, a monitor said earlier in the day, but government forces paused before entering its ravaged ancient ruins because of mines.</p>

<p>Russian-backed Syrian troops pushed into a western neighbourhood of the city late on Wednesday after fierce clashes with the jihadists.&nbsp;</p>

<p>By Thursday morning, IS had withdrawn to residential neighbourhoods in the east of the city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.</p>

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<h5>Before IS entered Palmyra in May 2015, it boasted temples, colonnaded alleys and elaborately decorated tombs that were among the best preserved classical monuments in the Middle East</h5>
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<p>&quot;IS withdrew from most of Palmyra after laying mines across the city. There are still suicide bombers left in the eastern neighbourhoods,&quot; Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Government forces have not yet been able to enter the heart of the city or the eastern parts.&quot;</p>

<p>Palmyra&#39;s ancient ruins have long been listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site.</p>

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<p>Also read:</p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<h5><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/destruction-of-syrias-palmyra-an-insiders-view-12480" target="_blank">Destruction Of Syria&#39;s Palmyra: An Insider&#39;s View</a></h5>
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	<h5><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-releases-drone-footage-showing-destruction-in-syrias-palmyra-12352" target="_blank">Russia Releases Drone Footage Showing Destruction In Syria&#39;s Palmyra</a></h5>
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	<h5><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-state-destroys-famous-monument-in-syrias-palmyra-11504" target="_blank">Islamic State Destroys Famous Monument In Syria&#39;s Palmyra</a></h5>
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	<li>
	<h5><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/suspected-gas-attack-near-is-held-palmyra-monitor-10055" target="_blank">Suspected Gas Attack Near Is-Held Palmyra: Monitor</a></h5>
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<p>Before IS entered the city in May 2015, they boasted temples, colonnaded alleys and elaborately decorated tombs that were among the best preserved classical monuments in the Middle East.</p>

<p>But the jihadists launched a campaign of destruction against them, the scale of which was fully revealed when government forces briefly retook the city with Russian support last year.</p>

<p>Satellite imagery has shown that IS has demolished more monuments since it recaptured Palmyra from government forces in December.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Syrian antiquities director Maamoun Abdul Karim told AFP he was looking forward to &quot;the end of the nightmare&quot; of IS&#39;s rule over Palmyra.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I feel a mix of joy and fear. Joy, because we&#39;re sure that there will be no more damage to the archaeological site at Palmyra, and apprehension to see what has happened to the city,&quot; Abdul Karim told AFP by telephone from Damascus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said he was impatiently waiting to head to Palmyra himself to see the extent of the damage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;It&#39;s a nightmare... When we talk about Palmyra now, we no longer talk about its beauty. It has become synonymous with fear,&quot; Abdul Karim said.&nbsp;<br />
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(AFP)<br />
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IS fighters withdrew from much of the Syrian oasis city of Palmyra overnight, a monitor said earlier in the day

The Syrian army backed by Russian jets has completed the recapture of the iconic ancient city of Palmyra from the Islamic State group, the Kremlin said Thursday. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu informed President Vladimir Putin of the completion of the operation, spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies. Islamic State group fighters withdrew from much of the Syrian oasis city of Palmyra overnight, a monitor said earlier in the day, but government forces paused before entering its ravaged ancient ruins because of mines. Russian-backed Syrian troops pushed into a western neighbourhood of the city late on Wednesday after fierce clashes with the jihadists. By Thursday morning, IS had withdrawn to residential neighbourhoods in the east of the city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Before IS entered Palmyra in May 2015, it boasted temples, colonnaded alleys and elaborately decorated tombs that were among the best preserved classical monuments in the Middle East × "IS withdrew from most of Palmyra after laying mines across the city. There are still suicide bombers left in the eastern neighbourhoods," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. "Government forces have not yet been able to enter the heart of the city or the eastern parts." Palmyra's ancient ruins have long been listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Also read: Destruction Of Syria's Palmyra: An Insider's View Russia Releases Drone Footage Showing Destruction In Syria's Palmyra Islamic State Destroys Famous Monument In Syria's Palmyra Suspected Gas Attack Near Is-Held Palmyra: Monitor Before IS entered the city in May 2015, they boasted temples, colonnaded alleys and elaborately decorated tombs that were among the best preserved classical monuments in the Middle East. But the jihadists launched a campaign of destruction against them, the scale of which was fully revealed when government forces briefly retook the city with Russian support last year. Satellite imagery has shown that IS has demolished more monuments since it recaptured Palmyra from government forces in December. Syrian antiquities director Maamoun Abdul Karim told AFP he was looking forward to "the end of the nightmare" of IS's rule over Palmyra. "I feel a mix of joy and fear. Joy, because we're sure that there will be no more damage to the archaeological site at Palmyra, and apprehension to see what has happened to the city," Abdul Karim told AFP by telephone from Damascus. He said he was impatiently waiting to head to Palmyra himself to see the extent of the damage. "It's a nightmare... When we talk about Palmyra now, we no longer talk about its beauty. It has become synonymous with fear," Abdul Karim said. (AFP)

Syrian army retakes ancient city of Palmyra from Islamic State: Russia

<p>The ancient ruins of Palmyra are perhaps the most&nbsp;fascinating among the many archaeological gems of Syria.&nbsp;When Syrians talk about Palmyra, their voice fills with pride; it is entrenched in their national identity. For centuries, the city attracted and hosted travellers, merchants and visitors from all over the world.</p>

<p>This pride has turned into anxiety after what is being currently happening to Palmyra.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Islamic State invaded Palmyra for the first time in May 2015, unleashing terror&nbsp;against the city. They begun destroying statues, then they blew up the Temple of Baalshamin and the Temple of Bel. Centuries of human history were destroyed in a few months.</p>

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<p>Palmyra&#39;s Temple of Baal-Shamin. (Photo courtesy: Bernard Gagnon). (Others)</p>
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<p>Palmyra&#39;s Temple of Bel. (Photo courtesy: Bernard Gagnon). (Others)</p>
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<p>Khaled al-Asaad the famous Syrian archaeologist who was head of antiquities for the ancient city of Palmyra tried his best to hide many of Palmyra&#39;s treasures from the Islamic State&#39;s&nbsp;pillage&nbsp;. He succeeded but paid with his life: an IS masked executioner cut off his head. His body was tied to a traffic light with his head between his feet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In March 2016, the Syrian army recaptured Palmyra, but<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-state-fighters-re-enter-ancient-palmyra-in-syria-after-heavy-fighting-9991"> it lost it again in December </a>when an aggressive Islamic State, suffering militarly both in Mosul and Syria, destroyed the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-state-destroys-famous-monument-in-syrias-palmyra-11504">Tetrapylon</a> and part of the Roman Theatre.</p>

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<p>Palmyra&#39;s Tetrapylon. (Photo courtesy: Heretiq). (Others)</p>
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<p>Palmyra&#39;s Roman Theatre. (Others)</p>
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<p>The Islamic State is still in control of Palmyra, all the citizens of the neighbouring town of Tadmur have fled. There are&nbsp;currently no witnesses&nbsp;on the ground. The picture we published in this article represent all monuments which have been heavily&nbsp;damaged, if not completely destroyed.&nbsp;The city was one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world and it is one of UNESCO&#39;s top world heritage sites.</p>

<p>The Russian army has recently published a video showing the sites which have been damaged or destroyed.</p>

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<p>Russian defence ministry drone footage reveals damage caused by the Islamic State to UNESCO sites in the Syrian city of Palmyra. (Reuters)</p>
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<p>(WION)<br />
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The Islamic State is still in control of Palmyra, all citizens in the neighbouring town of Tadmur have fled

The ancient ruins of Palmyra are perhaps the most fascinating among the many archaeological gems of Syria. When Syrians talk about Palmyra, their voice fills with pride; it is entrenched in their national identity. For centuries, the city attracted and hosted travellers, merchants and visitors from all over the world. This pride has turned into anxiety after what is being currently happening to Palmyra. The Islamic State invaded Palmyra for the first time in May 2015, unleashing terror against the city. They begun destroying statues, then they blew up the Temple of Baalshamin and the Temple of Bel. Centuries of human history were destroyed in a few months. Palmyra's Temple of Baal-Shamin. (Photo courtesy: Bernard Gagnon). (Others) × Palmyra's Temple of Bel. (Photo courtesy: Bernard Gagnon). (Others) × Khaled al-Asaad the famous Syrian archaeologist who was head of antiquities for the ancient city of Palmyra tried his best to hide many of Palmyra's treasures from the Islamic State's pillage . He succeeded but paid with his life: an IS masked executioner cut off his head. His body was tied to a traffic light with his head between his feet. In March 2016, the Syrian army recaptured Palmyra, but it lost it again in December when an aggressive Islamic State, suffering militarly both in Mosul and Syria, destroyed the Tetrapylon and part of the Roman Theatre. Palmyra's Tetrapylon. (Photo courtesy: Heretiq). (Others) × Palmyra's Roman Theatre. (Others) × The Islamic State is still in control of Palmyra, all the citizens of the neighbouring town of Tadmur have fled. There are currently no witnesses on the ground. The picture we published in this article represent all monuments which have been heavily damaged, if not completely destroyed. The city was one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world and it is one of UNESCO's top world heritage sites. The Russian army has recently published a video showing the sites which have been damaged or destroyed. Russian defence ministry drone footage reveals damage caused by the Islamic State to UNESCO sites in the Syrian city of Palmyra. (Reuters) × (WION)

Russia releases drone footage showing destruction in Syria's Palmyra

<p>Islamic State militants have destroyed one of the most famous monuments in the ancient city of Palmyra, the Tetrapylon, and the facade of its Roman Theatre, Syrian antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim told Reuters on Friday.</p>

<p>The Syrian government lost control of Palmyra to Islamic State in December, the second time the jihadist group had overrun the UNESCO world heritage site in the six-year-long Syrian conflict.</p>

<p>The Tetrapylon, marking a junction along Palmyra&#39;s grand colonnade, comprises a raised stone platform with matching structures of four columns positioned at each of its corners.</p>

<p>Satellite imagery sent by Abdulkarim to Reuters showed it largely destroyed, with only four of 16 columns still standing and the stone platform apparently covered in rubble.</p>

<p>The imagery also showed extensive damage to monuments on the stage of the Roman Theatre, with several towering stone structures apparently also destroyed.</p>

<p>Abdulkarim said if Islamic State remained in control of Palmyra &quot;it means more destruction&quot;. He said the destruction took place sometime between Dec. 26 and Jan. 10, according to the satellite imagery of the site.</p>

<p>Islamic State had previously captured Palmyra in 2015, and held it for 10 months until Syrian government forces backed by allied militia and Russian air power managed to drive them from the city last March.</p>

<p>During its previous spell in control of Palmyra, Islamic State destroyed other monuments there, including its 1,800-year-old monumental arch. Palmyra, known in Arabic as Tadmur, stands at the crossroads of the ancient world.<br />
<br />
(Reuters)</p>


IS jihadists destroyed the Tetrapylon, and the facade of its Roman Theatre, Syrian antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim said

Islamic State militants have destroyed one of the most famous monuments in the ancient city of Palmyra, the Tetrapylon, and the facade of its Roman Theatre, Syrian antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim told Reuters on Friday. The Syrian government lost control of Palmyra to Islamic State in December, the second time the jihadist group had overrun the UNESCO world heritage site in the six-year-long Syrian conflict. The Tetrapylon, marking a junction along Palmyra's grand colonnade, comprises a raised stone platform with matching structures of four columns positioned at each of its corners. Satellite imagery sent by Abdulkarim to Reuters showed it largely destroyed, with only four of 16 columns still standing and the stone platform apparently covered in rubble. The imagery also showed extensive damage to monuments on the stage of the Roman Theatre, with several towering stone structures apparently also destroyed. Abdulkarim said if Islamic State remained in control of Palmyra "it means more destruction". He said the destruction took place sometime between Dec. 26 and Jan. 10, according to the satellite imagery of the site. Islamic State had previously captured Palmyra in 2015, and held it for 10 months until Syrian government forces backed by allied militia and Russian air power managed to drive them from the city last March. During its previous spell in control of Palmyra, Islamic State destroyed other monuments there, including its 1,800-year-old monumental arch. Palmyra, known in Arabic as Tadmur, stands at the crossroads of the ancient world. (Reuters)

Islamic State destroys famous monument in Syria's Palmyra

<p>The Islamic State jihadist group recaptured Palmyra on Sunday after Syrian armed forces pulled out from the desert city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.</p>

<p>&quot;Despite the ongoing air raids, IS retook all of Palmyra after the Syrian army withdrew south of the city,&quot; said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.</p>

<p>The IS-linked Amaq news agency also reported that IS regained &quot;full control&quot; of the city on Sunday.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
(AFP)</p>


The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and IS-linked Amaq news agency both reported that IS had recaptured the city

The Islamic State jihadist group recaptured Palmyra on Sunday after Syrian armed forces pulled out from the desert city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "Despite the ongoing air raids, IS retook all of Palmyra after the Syrian army withdrew south of the city," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman. The IS-linked Amaq news agency also reported that IS regained "full control" of the city on Sunday. (AFP)

IS regains 'full control' of Palmyra after Syria army withdrawal

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