Islamic State Group Has Captured 'Half of Syrian Territory'

Reports indicate that the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, has taken control of Palmyra, currently holding approximately half of Syrian territory. According to a Reuters report dated May 21, the group, which had previously seized parts of eastern and northern Syria, has now removed one of Syria's largest cities from the control of the central government. The report states that the lands and areas under the control of the Islamic State are mostly uninhabited regions. Most populous cities in Syria, such as Damascus, are located in the west of the country near the Lebanese border. The Syrian military has prioritized the defense of populous cities in the west. A report from the German news agency also stated that with the capture of Palmyra by ISIS, half of Syrian territory is now under the control of this group. The Islamic State militants have a history of destroying historical sites and museums, but there are currently no reports indicating that they have begun to destroy Palmyra, which is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has also reported that ISIS has taken control of half of Syrian territory and has removed 14 provinces from the central Syrian government. The report indicates that the Islamic State forces have exploited the four-year conflict and civil war in Syria, pushing back the exhausted Syrian government forces in Palmyra. Syrian human rights activists say that the situation in Palmyra is dire. The city has been without electricity for four days, and necessary medicines are not reaching hospitals. It has also been reported that more than 100,000 refugees, who had previously sought refuge in Palmyra to escape ISIS, have been displaced once again. This marks the second significant victory for the Islamic State group within the past week, having also fully captured the city of Ramadi in Iraq a few days ago.