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Syria retakes positions west of Palmyra

This May 17, 2015 photo shows Syrian soldiers getting in position during clashes with ISIL militants near the city of Palmyra, 215 kilometers northeast of the capital, Damascus. (AFP photo)

Syrian troops and volunteer forces have liberated some key positions around the central Syrian city of Palmyra, killing scores of ISIL militants in the area.

Lebanese sources said Monday that Syrian troops have seized control of regions west of the Palmyra, forcing militants to abandon their positions on the hilltops and mountains there.

The report by al-Manar TV channel said an unspecified number of terrorists were killed while government forces managed to destroy two vehicles belonging to the ISIL Takfiri group.

According to other reports, pro-government forces also established full control over farming lands around the Siyaqah School, securing a key oil pipeline going through the region.

The Syrian forces are now just kilometers away from Palmyra which fell into the hands of ISIL in late May. The ancient city is on the list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s World Heritage sites and is situated about 215 kilometers northeast of the Syrian capital, Damascus.

The conflict in Syria, which started in March 2011, has reportedly claimed more than 230,000 lives up until now.

The violence has also forced over 3.8 million Syrians to take refuge in neighboring countries, including Jordan and Lebanon. More than 7.2 million others have been displaced within Syria, according to the United Nations.


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