ISIS retakes Palmyra

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants recaptured Palmyra from Syrian troops Sunday, the Associated Press reports. 

{mosads}It marks a major victory for ISIS after a year of setbacks in Syria and Iraq. 

ISIS militants re-entered the city Saturday, taking advantage of Syria’s and Russia’s preoccupation with the city of Aleppo. 

ISIS was ousted from Palmyra by Syrian and Russian forces nine months ago. 

“I don’t think the regime would withdraw forces from Aleppo to Palmyra and risk losing Aleppo,” Rami Abdurrahman, the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition monitoring group, told the AP.  

“I think the regime’s priority now is to finish the battle for Aleppo before the end of the month for sure. As for Palmyra, the whole international community would stand by it against IS.”