The Syrian army has recaptured Tadmor castle, the old citadel overlooking the ruins of the ancient city on Friday, reports by state media and Reuters said.
Palmyra has been the site of an ongoing offensive by Syrian forces to retake the city from Daesh, which gained control over the area last year. More than a symbolic win, Palmyra has the potential to open up much of eastern Syria to government forces, marking the biggest single gain by Assad's forces since Russia intervened in the conflict last September.
Palmyra, known as the "Pearl of the Desert" was home to some of the most extensive Roman ruins in the Middle East, and much of its monuments and artifacts were destroyed last year by Daesh in its campaign to wipe out pre-Islamic history in Syria.
Russia has continued to provide air support for Syrian regime forces despite a recent announcement that it would be withdrawing the bulk of its military forces from Syria.
Syrian state television quoted military sources as saying the citadel had been recaptured, following 56 airstrikes on Friday. This was later confirmed by the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
