(MENAFN) Terrorist groups in Syria have taken control of the ancient city of Palmyra, according to Turkish media reports. The Syrian government forces have reportedly retreated from the nearby T-4 airbase, a critical military supply hub. The city, which lies along the main route between Damascus and Deir-ez-Zor, fell into the hands of the US-backed Syrian Free Army (FSA) on Saturday. The FSA is part of a larger coalition of anti-government forces, including several jihadist factions and local militias.

Following the FSA's takeover of Palmyra, Syrian Army units began evacuating the vital T-4 airbase, located between Palmyra and Homs. This development comes after a broader offensive by Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) jihadists, who launched an attack from the northern provinces of Idlib and Aleppo. HTS fighters have taken control of Aleppo, Hama, and several towns north of Homs and are now engaged in battles with Syrian Army forces near Homs and on the outskirts of Damascus.

If HTS gains control of Homs and the FSA solidifies its hold on Palmyra, both groups will be in a position to mount an attack on Damascus from multiple directions. Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was previously attacked by Islamic State (IS) fighters in 2015, who destroyed ancient structures and looted priceless artifacts. Syrian government forces, with Russian support, retook the city in 2016, although it briefly fell to IS again before being liberated in 2017.

Despite these setbacks, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to defeat the jihadist forces advancing towards the capital and punish those supporting them. Reports have emerged suggesting that HTS militants received training from Ukrainian military intelligence. Meanwhile, Russian and Syrian warplanes have been carrying out airstrikes on HTS positions, reportedly killing dozens of militants near Homs.

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