Palmyra, a city previously liberated twice by Syrian and Russian forces from jihadist control, is again under terrorist control.
Turkish media reports indicate that terrorist groups have seized the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, as their advance toward Damascus continues. Government forces have reportedly withdrawn from a nearby airbase.
According to Türkiye’s Anadolu agency, the Syrian Free Army (a US-backed faction within the broader Free Syrian Army coalition encompassing various jihadist groups and local militias) captured Palmyra, a city strategically located on the main route between Damascus and Deir-ez-Zor, where Kurdish militias are engaged in conflict with the Syrian Army.
Al Jazeera reports that Syrian Army personnel evacuated the crucial T-4 airbase—a vital supply center for the Syrian military, alongside Damascus International Airport—following the FSA’s entry into Palmyra.
Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) jihadists launched an offensive from Idlib and Aleppo provinces last week, preceding the FSA’s assault on Palmyra. HTS forces have subsequently taken control of Aleppo and Hama, along with several towns north of Homs, and are reportedly engaged in fighting with Syrian Army troops in Homs and on Damascus’ outskirts.
Should HTS secure Homs and the FSA maintain control of Palmyra, a multi-pronged attack on Damascus becomes a possibility.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Palmyra suffered attacks from Islamic State (IS) fighters in 2015 during the Syrian Civil War. IS looted artifacts, destroyed historical structures (including the Temple of Bel and the Arch of Victory), and used the Roman amphitheater for public executions.
Syrian government forces, supported by Russian airstrikes and Wagner Group mercenaries, recaptured Palmyra in 2016 and again in 2017, after a brief IS recapture.
The Syrian government earlier on Saturday refuted reports of President Bashar Assad’s departure or planned departure from Syria. Assad vowed to eliminate the terrorists advancing on the capital and to punish their sponsors and supporters, amid reports suggesting that HTS militants received training from Ukrainian military intelligence.
Russian and Syrian warplanes have conducted continuous airstrikes against HTS positions since the start of the offensive last week, reportedly killing numerous militants north of Homs on Saturday.