Syrian Army Enters Palmyra; Russian Officer Killed

Reports indicate that Syrian government forces, supported by Russian air power, entered the city of Palmyra (Tadmur), which is under the control of the Islamic State (ISIS), on Thursday, April 5. It is reported that a Russian special forces officer was also killed in these clashes. According to Reuters, Syrian army forces have launched a large-scale operation this month to retake the city of Palmyra. On Thursday, Syrian state television broadcast images from near the city of Tadmur, stating that these forces have taken control of the western part of the city. In this context, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in London, reports that government forces have managed to capture the western region of Palmyra and a residential area. Reuters states that if Palmyra is retaken by government forces, it will be the most significant military victory for the Syrian army, supported by Russian air power, against the Islamic State. The Islamic State has suffered defeats in Iraq and Syria over the past year. Syrian state television interviewed a soldier from the country present in the battle for Palmyra, who stated that government forces have larger objectives than Palmyra and are continuing their advance towards Raqqa, the main base of the Islamic State. Reuters also reported that the air force of the US-led coalition has bombed targets around Palmyra. The news agency added that these attacks represent a rare instance of simultaneous operations by Syrian government forces and the US-led coalition against the Islamic State in a shared operational area. The city of Palmyra, or Tadmur, fell to the Islamic State last year. UNESCO considers the ancient site of this city to be one of the most important cultural heritage sites globally, representing several civilizations. The archaeological remains of Palmyra date back to ancient Roman times, over two thousand years ago. The Russian news agency Interfax reported, citing a military officer from Russia at the Russian airbase in Latakia, Syria, that one of the officers of the Russian special forces was killed in the military operation in Palmyra. This military official stated, "A special forces officer was killed while directing Russian airstrikes against terrorists." In this context, a source told Interfax, "The location of this Russian officer, who was in charge of directing Russian airstrikes, was discovered and surrounded by terrorist forces, and he was ultimately killed heroically." Reuters notes that this is the seventh soldier reported killed in Syria since the start of the Russian military operation.