Syrian airstrikes kill 26 in ISIS-held Palmyra city

At least 26 people were killed Friday by Syrian airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS)-held city of Palmyra in central Syria, a monitor group reported.

The death toll includes 14 civilians and 12 IS militants, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

It said the Syrian air force on Friday carried out as many as 25 airstrikes against the IS positions in the ancient city of Palmyra.

Several people were wounded as a result of the heavy airstrikes, and the death toll could rise due to the high number of critically wounded people, according to the UK-based watchdog group.

Friday's strikes came just a day after the Syrian war jets heavily struck the IS positions in the northern province of al-Raqqa, the de facto capital of the IS.

The IS terror group seized full control of the millennia-old oasis city of Palmyra, otherwise known as Tadmur, on May 20 this year.

Since capturing it, the terror-labeled group destroyed the city's notorious military prison and several Islamic tombs and centuries-old temples.

The IS also committed public executions of government soldiers and people accused of working for the government.

Syria is reeling under four years of conflict and intense battles between government troops and an array of ultra-radical groups such as the Nursra Front and the IS. 
 Xinhua - china.org.cn
19/9/15