Syrian troops advance forward after retaking Palmyra

PanARMENIAN.Net - Syrian forces pressed their offensive against the Islamic State group, the day after seizing control of the ancient city of Palmyra in a major blow for the jihadists, AFP reports.

Regime troops pushed on towards Deir ez-Zor province, an IS bastion, the day after wresting control of the desert ruins with the help of Russian air strikes.

Analysts said the government's seizure of Palmyra was the biggest blow so far in the war against IS and a major coup both for Damascus and Moscow.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad hailed the victory as "fresh proof of the efficiency of the Syrian army and its allies in fighting terrorism."

IS destroyed more than a dozen tombs and temples during its 10-month occupation of the UNESCO World Heritage site, known as the "Pearl of the Desert."

Outside, Syria's military turned their attention to other IS-held towns as they pushed towards Raqqa, the jihadists' de facto capital.