Damascus, March 25 (IANS) Islamic State (IS) militants on Friday withdrew from the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria, pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV reported.
The militants withdrew from the ancient citadel of Palmyra toward the al-Amiriyeh district in that oasis city in the eastern countryside of the central province of Homs, said the report.
The Syrian military forces are now combing areas between the hills and the ancient citadel of Palmyra in preparation for their entry, said the report, adding that the Syrian army also cut off the IS supply line between Palmyra and the town of Qaryatain in Homs countryside, Xinhua news agency reported.
Meanwhile, the report said the Syrian army is advancing in Palmyra under the air cover of the Russian air force.
Palmyra captured by the IS last year contains the monumental ruins of a great city that was one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world.
Syria has many prehistoric, Greek, Byzantine and Islamic heritages.
