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Putin, Rouhani laud liberation of Palmyra by Syrian army backed by Russian air group

The Syrian army said on Sunday that it liberated the ancient city of Palmyra, a UNESCO world heritage site, with support from the Russian air group

MOSCOW, March 28. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani discussed successful actions of the Syrian army which, with the backing from the Russia air group, has managed to drive Islamic State militants from the ancient city of Palmyra, the Kremlin press service said on Monday.

"The two presidents discussed in detail Syria-related problems following successful actions of the Syrian army which, with the backing from the Russian air group, has driven Islamic State extremists from the ancient city of Palmyra, the treasure-house of the world culture," the press service said. "The sides agreed that it is a really milestone event, including in the context of further anti-terrorist efforts in Syria."

The two presidents also exchanged views on current issues of the bilateral agenda. "They agreed to enliven contacts at various levels," the press service said.

The Syrian army said on Sunday that it liberated the ancient city of Palmyra, a UNESCO world heritage site, with support from the Russian air group.

Palmyra, an ancient city in Syria’s Homs province, was seized by gunmen of the Islamic State (a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia) in early summer 2015. The Syrian authorities said back then that Palmyra with its monumental ruins of a great city that was one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world standing at the crossroads of several civilizations, could share the miserable fate of Iraq’s ancient cities of Assur, Nimrud and Hatra that were destroyed by Islamic State militants.