Islamic State retakes parts of Syria’s historic Palmyra
Syrian activists say the Islamic State re-entered the historic city of Palmyra in central Syria on Saturday, pushing back the Russian-backed Syrian army that expelled the group only nine months ago in a highly publicized campaign.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that the Islamic State, also known as ISIL or ISIS, "entered Palmyra on Saturday and now occupies its northwest. There is also fighting with the army in the city center," Al Jazeera reports. The observatory says the militants reached the city’s Tadmor Hospital and its strategically located wheat silos.
The activist-run Palmyra Coordination Collective also reports militants seized the city’s military warehouse and its northern and western neighborhoods after taking several government positions, oil fields, and strategic hilltops in the surrounding countryside in a rapid three-day campaign, the Associated Press reports.
When the Islamic State took control of Palmyra in July 2015, it destroyed several of the city’s famed ancient Roman monuments and executed its archaeological director.
The new advances by the group contrast sharply with its defeats in territory it held in Iraq as part of the self-proclaimed caliphate that straddles two countries. Iraqi troops, aided by a U.S.-led coalition, have pushed the militants out of key cities in Iraq and retaken much of Mosul, the group's last major stronghold in Iraq.
The fight in Palmyra comes one day after U.S.-led coalition forces announced U.S. warplanes destroyed a fleet of 168 oil tanker trucks near the ancient city in the largest such strike against the terror group's finances this year.
More than 20 aircraft were used to destroy the tanker trucks. The oil in the trucks was worth about $2 million, according to a statement.
who- Islamic State
what-pushing back the Russian-backed Syrian army
where- historic city of Palmyra
why-not given
How-not given
When-only nine months ago
Keywords:
expelled 驅逐
campaign 運動
Observatory 天文台
strategically 戰略上
executed 執行
archaeological 考古
Terrorist attacks was a big issue recently. It have caused lots of tragedy and miseries. ISIS was one of the terrorists' group. They were aggressive, cold-blooded and cruel. They wanted to set a big country, which will be the biggest and stronger in the world. If someone does something that anger them, they will take revenge. What's worse, their attacks were violent and we couldn't know what they will do next. This was truly a serious problem that needed to be solved now.
回覆刪除I think terrorist attacks is a big issue that we should face on. Because terrorist attacks can't be predicted and we can hardly take action to prevent from them. So I think the world should unite to solve the problem and combat terrorist organizations as soon as possible.
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