| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Palmyra: No hint of a ceasefire |
| 2016-03-01 |
| This story was filed three days ago by Russian military journalists Dmitri Steshin and Aleksandr Kots, of Komsomol Pravda [SouthFront] It’s five hours until the ceasefire. We are standing on one of the heights some 7km from Palmyra, an ancient city straddling the Homs–Deir ez-Zor road. In May 2015, ISIS took this UNESCO World Heritage Site. And proceeded to methodically annihilate the architectural relics, blowing up the Allat Lion statue (dating to the 1st Century), Baalshamin and Bel churches (built in 131 and 32 AD), several burial towers from the Roman era…They destroyed everything that could not be carried off for sale on the black market. Or didn’t have value as a fortification. The militants did not destroy the fortress overlooking Palmyra. Instead they built a fortified observation point there. We can see it well from where we’re standing–powerful, ancient walls over the boulders. All approaches to Palmyra can be observed. And all the hills, including ours. Our hill also has a fortress of sorts, made of rocks, ammunition boxes, and living tents buried among them. Defenses here are held by Hezbollah militants who understand perfectly well the ceasefire will not apply here. ISIS is not covered by the ceasefire, and Palmyra must be liberated. For propaganda reasons, as it will be one of the most resounding victories scored by Syrian forces and their allies and, secondly, liberating Palmyra will open the road all the way to Deir ez-Zor which has been under a total blockade for over three years. Its garrison is being resupplied with food and munitions from the air. |
| Posted by:badanov |