PHOTO: Syrian troops pose near Palmyra

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UPDATE 1140 GMT: Live footage from pro-regime Al-Mayadeen TV indicates that pro-Assad forces are about 800 meters (0.5 miles) from the old city in Palmyra, reaching the last Islamic State sand barrier to the west.

The city center is under constant shelling. Western and southeast suburbs are also being shelled, indicating the Islamic State is still present.

SHELLING PALMYRA 26-03-16

A Syrian general has been killed in the assault. Shaba’an Ouja was commander of the 64th Regiment.

Al-Mayadeen TV’s live stream of the fighting:

ORIGINAL ENTRY: After weeks of attacks enabled by Russian airstrikes, pro-Assad forces closed on Islamic State-held Palmyra in central Syria on Friday.

The Syrian military and Hezbollah captured Palmyra Castle to the west of the Roman-era city. Fighting continued through the day, with Assad and ISIS supporters each claiming the upper hand, but footage this morning established the regime victory:

Pro-regime accounts also asserted that the pro-Assad troops entered Palmyra through the southern gate, advancing on the city’s prison. They said that the forces were trying to claim the airport, and that territory to the north was also taken.

However, a reporter embedded with the Syrian military posted a map on Friday night indicating that the forces were still outside Palmyra.

PALMYRA MAP 25-03-16

Palmyra, a renowned stop for travelers on the Silk Road, was taken by the Islamic State after a rapid offensive through eastern Homs Province in May 2015. They executed regime soldiers; destroyed part of the Roman architecture, including shrines, arches, and columns; and beheaded and displayed the body of the renowned antiquities scholar Khaled al-Asaad.

The Assad forces had been unable to advance on the city until Russia intervened with scores of airstrikes and Hezbollah sent units. Iran’s Republican Guards have also put in commanders and Iraqi and Afghan militia are involved, according to pro-regime outlets.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday that its warplanes carried out 41 sorties from Tuesday to Thursday and destroyed 146 targets. Video showed Russian and regime rockets and shelling of Palmyra Castle yesterday.

Moscow has also said that one of its special forces was killed, indicating an involvement in the ground assault.

A Syrian officer tells his troops that a failed operation led to 18 men killed and 43 wounded:

Drone footage of Palmyra:

US: We Killed High-Level ISIS Official

US officials said on Friday that they probably killed a high-level Islamic State official, responsible for handling finances, in an airstrike on the previous day.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter said the attack targeted Haji Iman and also struck Abu Sarah, charged with paying fighters in northern Iraq.

US officials said that special forces planned to capture Haji Iman, but that their two helicopters were fired upon. They then decided to destroy the vehicle in which the official was traveling.

A member of the Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently group supported the account, saying the burnt-out vehicle was still in the desert.

Analysts said Haji Iman was a long-time liaison between Al Qa’eda in Iraq, the forerunner of ISIS, and Al Qa’eda’s central leadership in Pakistan, including Osama bin Laden.

The Islamic State split from Al Qa’eda in 2014 after the center refused to acknowledge that the group was in charge in Syria.

Russia Tempers Stance on Federalism and Kurds

Russia has tempered its support of federalism and the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), emphasizing that Syria be an indivisible country.

Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told reporters on Friday:

Our task is to help Kurds, to find common ground, common approaches. National Syrian interests should prevail over all others. They should proceed from the fact that Syria should not be broken apart as it will be bad for Syrians themselves.

In early March, Russian officials proposed a federal Syria in which Kurds would have an autonomous area. The initiative came as the PYD opened an office in Moscow and Russia pressed for the involvement of the party and its allies in political talks in Geneva. Last week, a PYD-led conference declared the intention to establish the “Federation of Northern Syria”.

However, the PYD’s announcement brought heated criticism not only from the Syrian opposition and Turkey, but also from the Assad regime that Russia is supporting. The Foreign Ministry warned “any party against attempting to undermine the territorial integrity of Syria and the unity of its people under whatever names”.

See Syria Daily, March 17: Kurdish PYD Makes A Move for Federalism

Video: Protesters Burn Jabhat al-Nusra Checkpoint

A burning checkpoint of the jihadists of Jabhat al-Nusra, attacked by supporters of the Free Syrian Army who placed an FSA flag:

The checkpoint was on the Aleppo-to-Damascus road near Maarat al-Num’an in Idlib Province in northwesst Syria.

Clashes have escalated between the FSA and Jabhat al-Nusra in the area this month. The FSA’s Division 13 raided Nusra homes and offices, leading to more fighting, and demonstrators have challenged Nusra members at renewed opposition protests.

Opposition Criticizes UN Envoy’s “Women’s Advisory Council”

The Syrian opposition has challenged the Women’s Advisory Council named by UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, saying that the 12 members are not representing women’s concerns over the 5-year conflict.

Samira al-Masalmah, the Vice-President of the Syrian National Coalition, said that the Council had focused on a call for the removal of economic sanctions rather than on the abuses of the Assad regime.

Masalmah said the real representatives of Syrian women are the female detainees and the mothers, wives, and daughters of those killed during the uprising.

She noted the work of organizations such as the Syrian Feminist Lobby, which called on Wednesday for a genuine political transition, the release of detainees, and the lifting on blockades on besieged areas.

Videos: Mass Protests Across Syria on Friday

Footage of the mass protest in Maarat al-Num’an in Idlib Province in northwest Syria on Friday:

Hundreds of people have rallied in the town for four consecutive weeks, amid renewed protests across the country proclaiming “The Revolution Continues” and reasserting the call for President Assad’s departure from power.

See Friday Protests Across Syria: “Assad Manufactures Terrorism”

Demonstrators in the Roman theater in Busra al-Sham in southern Syria, near the Jordanian border:

Talbiseh in Homs Province:

The refugee camp at Bab al-Salama near the Turkish border: