DAMASCUS, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) group has retreated from points it reached in the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria as a result of intense airstrikes by Russia and Syria on Saturday, pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV reported.
The airstrikes targeted several areas near Palmyra in a bid to push back IS, which attempted to attack the city and has reportedly re-entered it after losing it to the Syrian government forces in nine months ago.
Meanwhile, a military source told Xinhua that the Syrian forces have thwarted an infiltration attempt by IS to enter the eastern part of Palmyra.
Earlier, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the IS entered that oasis city on Saturday.
"The IS is in the city of Palmyra for the first time after losing it to the Syrian army, whose forces are collapsing in the city," said the Observatory.
The UK-based watchdog group said the IS group succeeded to advance and reach the vicinity of the Palmyra hospital in the northwestern outskirts of the city, after capturing the Amiriyeh suburb in the northern part.
The IS militants also captured the Tar mountain, close to the Palmyra Citadel, west of the city, in tandem with shelling the citadel with mortar shells and heavy artillery.
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