Palmyra taken back from Islamic State

The Syrian city of Palmyra has been recaptured from the Islamic State.

Since May 2015, it had been under the control of the so-called Islamic State group, which deliberately damaged many of the buildings.

The city of Palmyra is thought to be one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world.

Unfortunately, people are not allowed back into the city due to a number of mines that have been laid by IS. these need to be cleared before people can re-enter.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SYRIA?
The war in Syria has gone on for five years (April 2016) and has claimed the lives of more than 250,000 people.
A partial ceasefire backed by the US and Russia was announced in February 2016.
Russia had been involved in the fighting but decided to withdraw most of its forces and aircraft on 14 March.
The country had been supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces with air strikes since September 2015.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON SYRIAN PEOPLE?
Millions have fled the conflict, but nearly 18 million people still live in the war-torn country.
Everyone in Syria will have known people who have died — but the exact number of those who are gone may never be known.
More than 6 million people who are still in Syria have been forced to flee their homes to look for somewhere safer to live.
The UN says 13.5 million people are in need of urgent help because of the war.

Information provide by the BBC.