This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/22/isis-seizes-syrian-military-base-palmyra-islamic-state-border-iraq-homs

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Isis seizes Syrian military base near Palmyra as it consolidates grip on city Isis seizes Syrian military base near Palmyra as it consolidates grip on city
(about 1 hour later)
Islamic State has consolidated its grip on the historic city of Palmyra and other swaths of territory in eastern Syria, fresh from its decisive victory over forces loyal to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.Islamic State has consolidated its grip on the historic city of Palmyra and other swaths of territory in eastern Syria, fresh from its decisive victory over forces loyal to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Militants from the terror group seized a small Syrian military base and station near Palmyra, a day after routing government forces from the ancient city. A video released by Isis showed its fighters entering the facility and seizing ammunition and weapons.Militants from the terror group seized a small Syrian military base and station near Palmyra, a day after routing government forces from the ancient city. A video released by Isis showed its fighters entering the facility and seizing ammunition and weapons.
“You can stop talking now,” a militant said as he tore down a portrait of Hafez al-Assad, the Syrian president’s father and predecessor.“You can stop talking now,” a militant said as he tore down a portrait of Hafez al-Assad, the Syrian president’s father and predecessor.
Another video showed militants mingling with civilians in the city near the corpses of two apparently pro-Assad fighters, shouting: “The Islamic State is here to stay.”Another video showed militants mingling with civilians in the city near the corpses of two apparently pro-Assad fighters, shouting: “The Islamic State is here to stay.”
Isis fighters are amassing near Tayfur, a key army base in Homs province that houses much of the Syrian air force’s fleet of fighter bombers. Isis fighters are amassing near Tayfur, a key military base in Homs province that houses much of the Syrian air force’s fleet of fighter bombers.
The group also launched fresh assaults in Deir el-Zour, where embattled regime soldiers are fighting an overwhelming Isis presence and are now largely cut off owing to the fall of Palmyra. The group also launched fresh assaults in Deir Ezzor, where embattled regime soldiers are fighting an overwhelming Isis presence and are now largely cut off owing to the fall of Palmyra.
The militants fought with government troops near the Deir el-Zour military airport, in an attempt to seize it. They also took control of the final border crossing with Iraq under regime control, giving it increasingly unfettered access to transport troops across the frontier. The militants fought with government troops near the Deir Ezzor military airport, in an attempt to seize it. They also took control of the final border crossing with Iraq under regime control, giving it increasingly unfettered access to transport troops across the frontier.
Isis took Palmyra on Wednesday night, a Silk Road hub of the ancient world and a Unesco world heritage site with magnificent ruins. Isis took Palmyra, a Silk Road hub of the ancient world and a Unesco world heritage site with magnificent ruins, on Wednesday.
The terror group is now thought to hold sway over half of Syria, having severed regime supply lines to Deir el-Zour in the east and opened the road to Assad’s strongholds of Damascus and Homs in central and western Syria. The terror group is now thought to hold sway over half of Syria, having severed regime supply lines to Deir Ezzor in the east and opened the road to Assad’s strongholds of Damascus and Homs in central and western Syria.
Related: Isis 'controls 50% of Syria' after seizing historic city of PalmyraRelated: Isis 'controls 50% of Syria' after seizing historic city of Palmyra
The fall of Palmyra after a seven-day siege was the first time Isis wrested a Syrian city from government control. It took the city less than a week after ousting Iraqi security forces from Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province in Iraq, showing its resilience after nearly a year of a punishing air campaign by a US-led coalition.The fall of Palmyra after a seven-day siege was the first time Isis wrested a Syrian city from government control. It took the city less than a week after ousting Iraqi security forces from Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province in Iraq, showing its resilience after nearly a year of a punishing air campaign by a US-led coalition.
The UN high commissioner for refugees said 11,000 civilians had fled Palmyra since the Isis offensive began, settling in nearby villages. The city was home to internally displaced people from other areas of Syria, many of them now fleeing again. The UN high commissioner for refugees said 11,000 civilians had fled Palmyra since the Isis offensive began, settling in nearby villages. The city was home to internally-displaced people from other areas of Syria, many of them now fleeing again.
“People are arriving exhausted, scared and in increasing numbers,” said Bhajat Al Arandas, an official with Al-Birr Society, which is working with UNHCR to distribute aid to the refugees. “They fled their homes in Palmyra and neighbouring villages with hardly anything and report there is no water, electricity or working mobile phone network [in the city].”“People are arriving exhausted, scared and in increasing numbers,” said Bhajat Al Arandas, an official with Al-Birr Society, which is working with UNHCR to distribute aid to the refugees. “They fled their homes in Palmyra and neighbouring villages with hardly anything and report there is no water, electricity or working mobile phone network [in the city].”
But two-thirds of residents are believed to still be in Palmyra, raising fears of retribution from Isis, which has already executed members of a rebellious tribe called the Shaitat that it accused of fighting alongside government forces.But two-thirds of residents are believed to still be in Palmyra, raising fears of retribution from Isis, which has already executed members of a rebellious tribe called the Shaitat that it accused of fighting alongside government forces.
The Assad regime had claimed that it evacuated most of the civilians in Palmyra before withdrawing from the cityBut iting what she said were credible sources, UN human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said there were reports of government forces preventing civilians leaving until they themselves fled and Isis took control of the city. The Assad regime had claimed that it evacuated most of the civilians in Palmyra before withdrawing from the city. But citing what she said were credible sources, UN spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said there were reports of government forces preventing civilians from leaving until they themselves fled and Isis took control of the city.
Related: First Ramadi, then Palmyra: Isis shows it can storm bastions of Syria and IraqRelated: First Ramadi, then Palmyra: Isis shows it can storm bastions of Syria and Iraq
“Isil has reportedly been carrying out door-to-door searches in the city, looking for people affiliated with the government. At least 14 civilians are reported to have been executed by ISIL in Palmyra this week,” she said, using another acronym for Islamic State. “Isil has reportedly been carrying out door-to-door searches in the city, looking for people affiliated with the government. At least 14 civilians are reported to have been executed by Isil in Palmyra this week,” she said, using another acronym for Islamic State.
Palmyra is home to some of the most magnificent ancient ruins, and its fall has led to fears that Isis fighters will destroy much of its cultural heritage as they have done in historic sites such as Nineveh, Iraq. Palmyra is home to some of the most magnificent ancient ruins from antiquity, and its fall has led to fears that Isis fighters will destroy much of its cultural heritage as they have done in historic sites such as Nineveh.
Isis has not released images of any assault on Palmyra ruins. The militant group is also now in control of two major gas fields near the city which supply much power stations of western Syria. Isis has not released images of any assault on Palmyra ruins. The militant group is also now in control of two major gas fields near the city which supply the power stations of western Syria.