Syrian government forces reach outskirts of Palmyra: Monitor

Syrian government forces and their allies pushed forward against Islamic State fighters to reach the outskirts of the historic city of Palmyra on Wednesday, Britain-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Syrian government forces and their allies pushed forward against Islamic State fighters to reach the outskirts of the historic city of Palmyra on Wednesday, Britain-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Months back, Islamic State group jihadists seized full control of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, putting the world heritage site at risk of destruction. (AFP Photo)

Clashes raged around the town after government forces took control of most of a nearby hill with air cover from Syrian and Russian warplanes, it said.

The Syrian army is trying to recapture Palmyra, which Islamic State seized in May, to open a road to the mostly IS-held eastern province of Deir al-Zor.