ISIS re-enters Palmyra as Russia strikes intensify

ISIS regained control of the city of Palmyra in the Homs governorate on Saturday while Syrian regime forces withdrew from it.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Russian air force heavily shelled many areas in the city in an attempt to prevent ISIS from advancing in the city and its countryside.

ISIS re-entered Palmyra after it withdrew from it eight months ago. It also seized control of the Palmyra castle after the regime forces withdrew from it.

According to the observatory, clashes are ongoing between ISIS and regime forces in the southern neighborhoods of the city and on the outskirts of al-Dowa area and Palmyra Airport.

After entering Palmyra, ISIS detained many of the city's residents and led them to unknown locations.

On December 8, ISIS seized control of al-Mahr oilfield, Jazal, Jahr, Qasr al-Hallabat and Heyal Mountains in the eastern countryside of Homs following violent clashes with regime forces.

The observatory added that hundreds of ISIS fighters arrived in ar-Raqqah from Iraq to participate in the battles across Syria.