IS militants re-enter historic Palmyra
Russian, Syrian forces left city relatively unguarded
BEIRUT — Islamic State militants re-entered the historic city of Palmyra in central Syria on Saturday for the first time since they were expelled by Syrian and Russian forces nine months ago.
The activist-run Palmyra Coordination network said militants had nearly encircled the city and entered its northern neighborhoods. The group said IS fighters were approaching the city’s UNESCO heritage site as well.
Osama al-Khatib said government soldiers were fleeing Palmyra.
“The army as an institution has dissolved,” he said. Some soldiers and militiamen remain in the city, along with 120 families who have not been able to leave, Khatib said.
“There is strong fighting on all sides. There is no exit except through a corridor to the west.”
The dramatic reversal in Palmyra comes days after IS militants in the Iraqi city of Mosul launched a major counterattack that surprised Iraqi soldiers, killing at least 20 and halting their advance.
On Saturday U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced that an additional 200 U.S. soldiers would be dispatched to Syria to accelerate the push on the self-declared IS capital of Raqqa. The 200, to include special operations troops, are in addition to 300 already authorized to recruit, organize, train and advise local Syrian Arab and Kurdish forces.
“These uniquely skilled operators will join the 300 U.S. special operations forces already in Syria, to continue organizing, training, equipping, and otherwise enabling capable, motivated, local forces to take the fight to ISIL,” Carter said.
During the 10 months that IS held Palmyra, from May 2015 to March 2016, the militants dynamited several of the city’s famed ancient Roman monuments and executed its archaeological director.
After the city was retaken, the Russian government staged a classical music concert in the city’s soaring Roman amphitheater to celebrate.
After taking Palmyra, the two states turned to Damascus and Aleppo, leaving the historic city relatively unguarded.