Gas field near Palmyra taken from ISIS Syrian forces reclaim Hayyan site 40 km from ancient city

(ANSAmed) - Beirut, February 14 - The Syrian army on Tuesday took back control of a large gas field roughly 40 km west of Palmyra, the city controlled by ISIS that also hosts the ancient archeological site, government news agency Sana reports. Government troops reconquered Hayyan gas field "after eliminating the last remaining ISIS forces in the area".



Military engineers are now working to clear the area of mines left by the extremists before they withdrew. The Palmyra area fell to ISIS in May 2015 before being taken back by government forces with Russian air support the following March.



It was then retaken by ISIS in December 2016 without resistance from either Syrian or Russian forces. (ANSAmed).



