Syrian regime recaptures Palmyra from ISIS

The Syrian army said it has recaptured the ancient city of Palmyra from ISIS for the second time in a year, with help from allied forces and Russian warplanes.

The Islamic State group seized Palmyra in a surprise advance in December after having been driven out eight months before.

Led by Iranian-backed militias and Russian special forces, the loyalist units entered the city on Thursday.

"With backing from the Syrian and Russian air forces, units of our armed forces recaptured the city of Palmyra, in cooperation with the allies," the military said in a statement.

ISIS retreated to areas in the east, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. Government forces took control of swathes of Palmyra and conducted combing operations to clear extensive networks land mines and booby traps laid by ISIS fighters, it said.

The famed Roman ruins that were once one of Syria’s pre-eminent tourist attractions. During ISIS's first occupation, which ended in March last year, the armed group destroyed some of Palmyra's priceless archaeological heritage. It is believed to have razed other parts of the historical ruins after regaining control in December.

The extremists hold most pre-Islamic civilisations in contempt.

The Syrian army is also fighting ISIS east of Aleppo city, where it is pushing to reach the Euphrates River, and in the city of Deir al-Zor, where it controls an enclave besieged by fighters.

ISIS is on the back foot in Syria after losing territory in the north to an alliance of US-backed Kurdish-led militias, and to Turkey-backed Syrian rebel groups.