Syrian army starts entering ancient Palmyra city: state TV

Syrian army started entering the northern district of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria on Thursday, state-run Alekhbaria TV reported.

The military forces started entering the northern district of Palmyra after bomb squads dismantled mines and explosive devices planted by the Islamic State (IS) group in that city.

The Syrian army reached the entrance of Palmyra on Thursday, just hours after capturing the nearby al-Hayaleh mountain, said the TV, adding that the infantry forces stormed IS fortifications in the northern districts of Palmyra.

The IS is still entrenched in the ancient citadel of Palmyra as other rebel groups withdrew to the eastern parts of the city, the TV added.

Since capturing it last May, the IS group destroyed the city's notorious military prison and several Islamic tombs.

The IS also put on public executions of government soldiers and people accused of working for the government.

Palmyra contains the monumental ruins of a great city that was one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient world.

Syria has many prehistoric, Greek, Byzantine and Islamic heritages. Before the crisis, Syria used to attract many multinational archaeological missions in search for new clues of historical facts on the development of civilizations. Endit