Islamic State Palmyra

From Palmyra to Paris: "Syrian Billy Elliot" Ahmad Joudeh is set on showing the real image of his nation and erasing the horrors of the Islamic state group.

Atop the ruins of Syria's famed Palmyra theatre, recently recaptured from the Islamic State group, teenage musician Angel Dayoub sings an old Arabic favourite: "We're coming back, oh love, we're coming back."

The Syrian army confirmed that they recaptured the ancient city of Palmyra from Islamic State for the second time in a year, with help from allied forces and Russian warplanes. Islamic State retook Palmyra in a surprise advance in December, after having been driven out eight months before.

The Islamic State's conquest of Palmyra appears to have netted the group a trove of weaponry, armor, ammunition and equipment that risks fueling a surge of gains by the militants in Syria at a time when attention has been diverted on the battle unfolding in Aleppo.

Islamic State militants fought their way back into the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra on Saturday nine months after they were driven out by Syrian government forces, in a reminder that the group is still a force to be reckoned with despite major losses of territory elsewhere.

The Syrian Army today fully captured a key city in the central province of Homs near the ancient city of Palmyra, following intense battles against the ISIS terrorist group.

Syrian and allied forces, backed by Russian air strikes, entered the ISIS-held town of al-Qaryatain on Sunday, having gradually surrounded it over the past few days, state media and a monitoring group said.

Syrian troops have found a mass grave containing the bodies of 42 people executed by Islamic State jihadists in Palmyra, as Washington warned the group's leader will eventually "taste justice".

Syrian troops found a mass grave containing around 40 bodies in Palmyra city, captured from Islamic State last Sunday, Syrian state news agency SANA said on Friday.

President Bashar al-Assad called on the United Nations and other international organisations on Wednesday to help Syria to restore Palmyra after government forces drove Islamic State militants out of the ancient city.

Syrian government forces backed by Russian air strikes battled ISIS insurgents around Palmyra on Monday, trying to extend their gains after taking back control of a city whose ancient temples were dynamited by the ultra-radical militants.

Syrian government forces advanced into Palmyra on Saturday with heavy support from air strikes and artillery, state media and a monitoring group said, taking control of several districts in a major assault against Islamic State fighters.

Syrian soldiers recaptured the old citadel of Palmyra overlooking the city's ancient ruins on Friday, state media and a monitoring group said, in an offensive which could open up much of eastern Syria to government forces.

The ISIS group suffered a double setback in Syria on Friday as army troops recaptured the ancient citadel in Palmyra and the Pentagon said the jihadists' second-in-command was killed in a US raid.

Giant replicas of an ancient arch in the Syrian city of Palmyra attacked by Islamic State (IS) jihadists will go on show in London and New York next year, organisers said Monday.

From Palmyra to Paris: "Syrian Billy Elliot" Ahmad Joudeh is set on showing the real image of his nation and erasing the horrors of the Islamic state group.

Atop the ruins of Syria's famed Palmyra theatre, recently recaptured from the Islamic State group, teenage musician Angel Dayoub sings an old Arabic favourite: "We're coming back, oh love, we're coming back."

The Syrian army confirmed that they recaptured the ancient city of Palmyra from Islamic State for the second time in a year, with help from allied forces and Russian warplanes. Islamic State retook Palmyra in a surprise advance in December, after having been driven out eight months before.

The Islamic State's conquest of Palmyra appears to have netted the group a trove of weaponry, armor, ammunition and equipment that risks fueling a surge of gains by the militants in Syria at a time when attention has been diverted on the battle unfolding in Aleppo.

Islamic State militants fought their way back into the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra on Saturday nine months after they were driven out by Syrian government forces, in a reminder that the group is still a force to be reckoned with despite major losses of territory elsewhere.

The Syrian Army today fully captured a key city in the central province of Homs near the ancient city of Palmyra, following intense battles against the ISIS terrorist group.

Syrian and allied forces, backed by Russian air strikes, entered the ISIS-held town of al-Qaryatain on Sunday, having gradually surrounded it over the past few days, state media and a monitoring group said.

Syrian troops have found a mass grave containing the bodies of 42 people executed by Islamic State jihadists in Palmyra, as Washington warned the group's leader will eventually "taste justice".

Syrian troops found a mass grave containing around 40 bodies in Palmyra city, captured from Islamic State last Sunday, Syrian state news agency SANA said on Friday.

President Bashar al-Assad called on the United Nations and other international organisations on Wednesday to help Syria to restore Palmyra after government forces drove Islamic State militants out of the ancient city.

Syrian government forces backed by Russian air strikes battled ISIS insurgents around Palmyra on Monday, trying to extend their gains after taking back control of a city whose ancient temples were dynamited by the ultra-radical militants.

Syrian government forces advanced into Palmyra on Saturday with heavy support from air strikes and artillery, state media and a monitoring group said, taking control of several districts in a major assault against Islamic State fighters.

Syrian soldiers recaptured the old citadel of Palmyra overlooking the city's ancient ruins on Friday, state media and a monitoring group said, in an offensive which could open up much of eastern Syria to government forces.

The ISIS group suffered a double setback in Syria on Friday as army troops recaptured the ancient citadel in Palmyra and the Pentagon said the jihadists' second-in-command was killed in a US raid.

Giant replicas of an ancient arch in the Syrian city of Palmyra attacked by Islamic State (IS) jihadists will go on show in London and New York next year, organisers said Monday.