(VOVworld) – The Islamic State retook Syria’s eastern city Palmyra after the Syrian army withdrew on Sunday, according to Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The ancient city of Palmyra was destroyed by ISIS on December11 (Photo:AP/ VNA)

The Russian Ministry of Defense said its air strikes on Saturday night killed 300 IS militants and destroyed 11 tanks and 31 vehicles. The Syrian army, backed by Russia, forced IS to withdraw from Palmyra on Sunday morning, but IS quickly retook the city.