Iran’s DM Congratulates Syria on Palmyra Recapture

Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan on Tuesday congratulated the Syrian nation, government and army on the recent liberation of the ancient city of Palmyra from the grip of Takfiri terrorists.

In a telephone conversation with his Syrian counterpart General Fahad Jassim al-Freij, the Iranian defense minister hailed the resistance and steadfastness of the Syrian nation and army, which led to the regaining of Palmyra.

Stressing Iran’s support for the Arab country in its fight against terrorism, Dehqan said, “(The Syrian army) must continue and intensify the military operation in order to uproot the cancerous tumor of terrorism in the region and liberate remaining areas under the occupation of terrorist groups.”

On Sunday, Syrian state television quoted a military source as saying the army had taken “complete control over the city of Palmyra”.

Palmyra, known as the “bride of the desert”, used to attract tens of thousands of tourists a year before the Syrian conflict started in 2011.

In May 2015, Daesh (also known as ISIL or ISIS) took the city and later demolished some of its best-known monuments.

Capturing the city is a major victory for President Assad’s government.

With Russian support, it has made steady gains in recent months against Daesh and other groups it is fighting.

Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with Takfiri terrorists, including Daesh, currently controlling parts of it, mostly in the east.

The Syrian conflict has killed at least 260,000 people, according to the UN, and more than half of Syria’s pre-war population of 22.4 million has been internally displaced or fled abroad.