The Syrian Armed Forces and National Defense Forces, backed by the Russian Air Force, have triumphantly recaptured the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of the Syrian Desert.

The Syrian Armed Forces began their wide-scale offensive on March 8th, striking the surrounding hills and orchards before they eventually stormed the ISIS-held bastion.

The number of ISIS militants killed in the 18-day long battle has not been confirmed by the Syrian Arab Army; however, a third-party source who has been accompanying the Desert Hawks during the battle has conformed to Al-Masdar News that hundreds of jihadis have been killed, along with a large number of vehicles and heavy weapons destroyed.

On May 21st, 2015, ISIS’ reign of terror began over the strategic city of Palmyra; this terrorist group brutally massacred dozens of the government troops as well as pro-government civilians.

Upon the capture of Palmyra, the terrorist group wreaked havoc on shrines, temples and monuments.

Priceless antiquities that have stood defiant to centuries of natural and man-made disasters, have been tragically destroyed by ISIS.

Palmyra is strategically important because its situated in a desert that stretches to the Iraqi borders to the east, and ISIS’ de facto capital of Ar-Raqqah to the north.

Located in the central city of Homs, the ancient city is located 210 km away from the Syrian capital, Damascus.

The fall of Palmyra will most likely pave the way for the Syrian Army to advance towards the terrorist group’s stronghold in Ar-Raqqah as well as the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor.

Currently, the highly-decorated Republican Guard forces are still defending the Deir ez-Zor military base and the provincial capital, where tens of thousands of civilians are suffering from a ruthless imposed by ISIS.