Following its loss of the ancient city of al-Qarayatain, ISIS has now been forced out of the central town of Palmyra, which it captured in August 2015. The situation marks a boost to the fortunes of President Bashar al-Assad, and provides a central base for troops to target the areas that ISIS controls near the border with Iraq. Before the group captured the town, Palmyra had a large Christian population, many of whom subsequently fled. A large number were also abducted and taken to ISIS’ de facto capital, Raqqa, before being released several weeks later.
Following its loss of the ancient city of Palmyra, ISIS has now been forced out of the central town of al-Qarayatain, which it captured in August 2015. The situation marks a boost to the fortunes of President Bashar al-Assad, and provides a central base for troops to target the areas that ISIS controls near the border with Iraq. Before the group captured the town, al-Qarayatain had a large Christian population, many of whom subsequently fled. A large number were also abducted and taken to ISIS’ de facto capital, Raqqa, before being released several weeks later.