Palmyra is liberated. The Syrian army, with the support of the Russian Aerospace Forces, completed the operation of capturing the city. According to the President’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov, Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu has already reported everything to Vladimir Putin. Let me remind you that ISIS terrorists, an illegal terrorist group, occupied Palmyra in the first half of December, when the army had to pull back most of its forces to Aleppo, where the fate of the entire country was being decided. Now both cities are liberated. Our military correspondent Alexey Baranov reports from Syria on what will happen next.

The military began to prepare this operation as soon as it became clear that Aleppo was no longer at risk. The Syrian regular army was able to concentrate its main forces near Palmyra only after forcing the militants out of the country's economic capital. Last time, exactly a year ago, insurgents left Palmyra having mined not only monuments of world history and architecture, but also modern quarters. Back then, EOD specialists of the Russian Ministry of Defence Engineer troops spent several weeks disarming hundreds of explosives left by the militants.

Now, according to the data obtained by an air drone, the main structures of the famous Roman Theater were destroyed by militants, as well as the Tetrapylon, which is located nearby. It will become clear in the near future what else was destroyed by the militants. Before liberating Palmyra, the Syrian regular army took all the key heights southwest of the ancient city. Taking the ancient citadel overlooking the oasis was crucial. According to the Syrian military, pinpoint strikes of the Russian Aerospace Forces on militant positions in the vicinity of Palmyra were substantial to the operation. However, it was the liberation of Aleppo from militants, that became the focal point.

After all, all the forces of the Syrian regular army were transferred to Aleppo where, without exaggeration, the fate of Syria as a united country was being determined. Those forces included the units that defended Palmyra, which was freed a year ago, from militants. They had to sacrifice the ancient city to save thousands and thousands of civilians from the eastern part of Aleppo, occupied by militants for four years. Now, not only Aleppo, but also Palmyra is liberated. Militants suffered heavy losses in manpower and machinery. However, their snipers are still working in Tadmor, the modern part of the city. Units of the Syrian regular army are still securing the area. After that, EOD specialists will begin their work. Since insurgents left land mines and booby-traps after the retreat.