Syrian army enters IS-held Palmyra; Mosul operation begins

DAMASCUS, Syria -- Syrian government forces pushed into the ancient town of Palmyra, where Islamic State militants appeared on the verge of collapse Thursday, while in Iraq, a military spokesman announced the start of a long-awaited operation to recapture the IS-held northern city of Mosul.

The extremist group has been losing ground in Syria and Iraq for months under a stepped-up campaign of U.S.-led and Russian airstrikes, as well as ground assaults by multiple forces in each country.

The retaking of Palmyra -- a UNESCO world heritage site whose fall to the militants last May sent shock waves through archaeological circles and beyond -- would be a significant victory for the Syrian government.

But the operation to unseat the group in Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, is likely to take much longer and be far more difficult.

The advance on Palmyra came after government forces, backed by Russian airstrikes, managed to capture several hills and high ground around the town this week.

On Thursday, Syrian state TV broadcast footage of its reporter, embedded with the Syrian military, speaking live from the entrance of Palmyra and saying as of midday, the fighting was concentrated near the famed archaeological site on the southwestern edge of the town.

Cracks of gunfire and explosions echoed as the reporter spoke.

The fall of Palmyra to IS militants last year had raised concerns worldwide, and the destruction the extremists subsequently embarked upon sparked alarm and made international headlines.

It also was a big blow to the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose forces pulled out with apparently little resistance.

By nightfall, intense fighting still was taking place on the outskirts. Turkey-based activist Osama al-Khatib, who is originally from Palmyra, denied Syrian troops had entered the town and said the video seen on Syrian state TV was taken about three miles from Palmyra.

Earlier in the day, Gov. Talal Barazi, speaking from the nearby city of Homs, said the Syrian army was clearing mines and explosives from roads leading into the town.