BEIRUT (Sputnik) – The Syrian army, supported by the air force and militias, liberated the Hiyan gas field close to Syria's Palmyra in the province of Homs, a militia source told Sputnik.
"The Syrian army supported by the Syrian militia and air force established full control over the Hiyan gas field west of Palmyra," the source close to the Desert Falcons militia said.
According to another source familiar with the details of the operation, the engineering units of the Syrian army have started to clear the territory of mines and explosives left by Daesh militants. The source noted that Daesh militants had completely destroyed the Hiyan gas processing plant and its pipeline a few days before the withdrawal in January.
Daesh seized Palmyra, which was the capital of the Palmyrene Empire and one of the richest cities of the Roman Empire, in May 2015. Terrorists destroyed a number of historic sights designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Arch of Triumph, the Temple of Baalshamin and the Temple of Bel. Jihadists also looted the national museum and the famous Palmyra’s necropolis.
Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on the Daesh offensive on Palmyra. According to the Russian leader, the situation in Palmyra was a result of discordant actions of different players in Syria.
On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry published a video that showed some of the most precious relics of Syria’s ancient Palmyra devastated by the Daesh terror group, outlawed in Russia and a number of other countries.
