>> as they make major gains in iraq, and syria. >> hello. watching al jazeera life from london. also coming up, orders his navy to search for desperate migrants. pro venting protests. clap down on demonstrators on the streets of the capitol. and a state of emergency is declared in california as

almost half a million of oil spill from a ruptured pipeline. the momentum of fighters from the islamic state. that's in stark contrast. isil fighters have entered a world heritage site in syria. palmyra sits behind the town. between the syrian capitol and the contests town. in recent weeks isil has been expanding it's territory. and now controlled by isil in syria with it's power based centered around aleppo in the north. where it has freedom of movement where that allowed

the support. and this is the situation in iraq, again, the areas controlled by isil in the north, the ones in red but the group also enjoys freedom of movement in that country in large part. but first, on ther foos for the ruins. this appears to be the final stages of fighting for a city at the heart of syria. isil fighters purke the government forces out. they are now in control of the cities infrastructure, including the national hospital and security headquarters. and, of course, thousands of people. >> there are about 140,000 people here, including some displaced from homes in their resort. people are afraid, there's no water, we can only use local wells and there's no power. most of the time. >> palmyra is surrounded by

gas fields where the government houses political prisoners. there's also a military airport and weapons depo. the significance is mostly in terms of the prison, but the cultural loss has been incalculable. >> the world he is taj site is 2,000 years old and has roman columns and price less artifacts. but much of the site remains at risk. >> we may say for different beliefs we may have different views, but we have to protect the future and incredible verse tajes. and i would appeal indeed that destroying heritage will not achief anything. >> fighting between rebels and government forces has already damaged parts of the sights. the u.n. says it has been used at a camp.

>> they say shows the ancient walls they accuse soldiers of looting. it is seen by many as cradle of the civilization. so much of the past has been preserved in this ancient place. al jazeera. >> elsewhere in the legion, at least 22 people have been killed between isil fighters. 50 people were injured during the battle in the eastern city. this has included members of isil. and displaced thousands. well, isil is also making gains in iraq, where heavy fighting is underway. from baghdad reports. >> there is a new front line in anbar province.

in the east of ramadi there is a fierce fight. isil has taken some towns in the district. the forces lo ill to the government are trying to prevent the group from getting closer to a main base a few kilometer away. the islamic state hasn't lost it's momentum, just days after seizing the potential. it wants to drain the resources of it's opponents. those isil want to settle or to be a moving group. is that you are always threatening so many fronts, especially, when the defensive military forces are not equipped. and not ready.

and they will leave the fight in the province. they were called in after the regular forces and an bar's local police were not able to hold off the isil assault. they ares are now asking for volunteers to join. they also say they will speed up the training and arm and recruit sunni tribesman, it is not the first time abadi makes such a promise to integrate into the security forces. many are skeptical that this plan will work, especially because there has been long time p osix from shia politician. >> on the front lines they

are seen fighting alongside the local police, the government has been trying to show that this fight is being waged by iraqis and is not a shia war against an bar sunnies. there is a need to create a nonsectarian army in iraq. attempts in the past have failed and with multiple front lines iraqi's need to unite now more than ever. in the last few hours u.s. president barack obama said he doesn't think the fight against the group is being lost. and are these advances raising new questions about u.s. military strategy? certainly with have heard from john mccain in the last few hours that believes that the strategy is wrong that it is being led by the president that doesn't quite understand what is happening there.

which is provide trainers and intelligence, and to provide support for any iraqi operations and they are insisting what they do is right. is it possible that the u.s. strategy is wrong. >> for money to buy weapons because they didn't have enough to defend themselves or their city. how does that fit into the strategy? >> i think what our experts tell me is that when the iraqi army faced the challenge and ramadi was very different from the situation

they face in isil, with we did talk about people, just basically putting down their weapons and fleeing, that is not what happened. they enganged in a very serious fight, it is one where they were overpowered. >> allen a small number of u.s. politician still concerned, they are calling for u.s. ground troops, how likely is that. >> well, they will be concerned because of what we are hearing from the u.s. government, which is although the iraqi army lost, they did put up a fight. they knew that it was an important city, but although they could have a fight they still lost it, there are a number of politician particularly on the republican side, and we are talking mainly about the contenders. but the white house and even national security advisor has said in the last 48 hours that simply is not going to

happen. they believe that the strategy they have which is all about armying educating training and giving strategic advice is the one that will eventually win out. in that briefing in the exchange i had, she was saying that th have pushed isil into many parts of the area of iraq. they have gained more ground over the last few months. the pour is though, when they lose a strategic city, it gives isil a boost it gives them publicity, and also gives them a bit more confident going on so the americans have that to combat as well. >> allen fisher, thank you very much. >> now ma play sha's prime minister has ordered the navy to search for thousands of migrants lost at sea. more than 4,000 people are

still thought to be trapped on boats. more than 3,000 have been rescued in the past month. malaysia says it will allow 7,000 migrants in, but only temporarily. robert mcbride and says the new position could cause issues of it's own. that was always the problem with this policy, letting the people whom you are trying to help know they can now receive help. these migrant boats are thought to be way offshore, especially since the push back policy by the different ren joes not letting them land, they are thought to be outside of mobile phone range, and don't know that they can now seek refuge. if they saw the coast guard they would probably be more likely to try to outrun it, rather than knowing that they are now there to help give assistance to get them ashore. migrant vessels will have a chance of going to indonesian

or malaysia, but in all likelihood, they will probably choose to come here, and people here know that many of the migrants have been going in the past weak or two to the indonesian side and the straits in theory if given the option they will start to come here this is the destination of many, from knee mar and many of their families and friends are already here. so they will likely come here and so people are gearing up. the next one to two weeks. where they are being cared for in indonesian. >> they all thought they were going to die when they were finally rescues they couldn't believe it.

doctors say their condition is very very bad, most of them are dehydrated malnourished they have infections and all kinds of skin diseases and authorities here, are struggling to take care of them. we thought we had died already, and would meet god almighty soon. we had lost all hope, we were so scared they have agreed to temporarily accept 7,000 migrants many of which are still at sea. the navy says they are not actively rescuing anyone that is still strands until they get a direct order to change their policy, to send away everyone, who is illegally entering their territory. this means that time is running out for the thousands still at sea and looking at the condition of those who have just arrive one day ago it is clear, that there's no time to lose. still ahead for you on al jazeera.

violence on the streets as chili's president tries to convince the nation that she is the right person for the job. first.

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>> "inside story" takes you beyond the headlines, beyond the quick cuts, beyond the sound bites. we're giving you a deeper dive into the stories that are making our world what it is. >> ray suarez hosts "inside story". only on al jazeera america. welcome back, you are watching al jazeera. let's update you this hour. they are now in full control of the ancient syrian city and the neighboring town.

doe spite the recent gains u.s. president is said he doesn't think the fight against isil is being lost. in iraq too the group continues our advance just days after taking the capitol fierce fighting continues to the east of that city. and the prime minister has ordered the country's navy to search for boats in the sea. groups estimate that as many as 4,000 people are still stranded. news now, and forces loyaled to compiled president have said think taken back sites. progovernment troops are now advancing towards east at al jazeera has the latest. >> government troops gain ground in the province. it borders the power base of the houthis. if joe falls into government hands, lit be the most

significant lost for rebels since they took over power in september. these are the vehicles seized by tribesman, loyal to the president. fighting continues the houthis backed by soldiers loyal to former president. have intensified the campaign to capture the third largest city. the coalition has ramped up air strikes in the capitol. these are some of the weapons air dropped to government troops in the southern province. ooze the fighting picks up, international efforts are underway to bring together

warring factions to stop political talks in geneva. it is not a permanent member of the security council therefor, i don't see what is the point. why not invite brazil, and invite others to the conference there is no place for iran in the consultations in geneva, they are not been playing a constructive role and as such cannot be -- the international aid agencies warned the on going crisis will effect millions of people across the country. they welcome the geneva talks but remain divided over the agenda.

they want the talks to recognize as yemen's legitimate leader. the houthis on the other hand, the talks should acknowledge the growing political influence al jazeera. >> where two people have been shot dead and on going demonstrations. over the president's plans to run for a third term in office. from the capitol reports. women try to protest the police seem determined to stop them, and did. we need peace and we want to be heard why you beating us? what have we done. question don't want people to die because of the sellishness of our leaders. >> the police eventually leave.

defeated the women are too distraught to protest. the police have shown they mean business. the capitol hasn't been peaceful for weeks. on thursday, police and members of the quart disburse people trying to march where the president was swearing in new ministers. >> at least one person was killed. people here say they are tired of the violence and death, they are begging the international community to intervene. this person has just been killed in front of us, the rest of the world needs to rise up and be seen, they need to stop this man. >> there is a heavy secure presence in some effort pas many people say they don't feel safe. a man was shot and killed in this neighborhood, after that happened protestors got scared and they ran away. they say it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to come on to the streets. >> the government officials say gnarly 200 people have been arrested since the protests against the president have began nearly a

month ago. many have also been injured and killed. they won't stop until the president gives up plans to hang on to power. al jazeera, in chile antigovernment protestors have clashed with police in the coastal city. the president michelle was delivered her annual state of the nation speech. the government has been tarnished by scandals and their approval rating has plummeted to under 30% despite a major cabinet reshuffle. and in economic slow down, latin american editor has more. >> which is where the congress of chili is based and as you can see there are police behind me, they have been playing cat and mouse for the last hour, there have been clashes these rock throwing protestors, clashing with riot police who are an

armed with tear gas, they have been going back and forth, and back and forth but the demonstration itself that was called by students and labor unions was a lot smaller than many had expected at the president gave her address this perhapses is because of the large number of police that are out here at least 2,000 and also the fact that two and students were killed exactly one and week ago right here, during that demonstration. a massive clean up operation on the united states west coast is entering a third and day. as the. >> laest oil spill in almost half a century continues to lap up on california's famous beaches. the state governor has now declare add state of emergency, after half a milliliters of oil ruptured. it seems the volunteers are helping the wild life, despite their best intentions. >> specific equipment needs

to be worn by trained professionals many of us responding here, work, live, and play in southern california, and i understand the desire to help. but i must stress even the volunteers must be trains and wearing proper protective equipment jake ward has more from the beach close to the town of santa barbara on the southern coast. >> here it is really the center of the enchew up effort, which is really only just begun. the workers are manually going across the surface to try to pick up as much as covered in oil as possible. this is the great irony, is this is sort of california as it's most beautiful, this is the birthplace of the environmental movement in the middle of the last century. so the idea that oil spilled here, has californians feeling particularly tragic it has also led the governor of california to declare a state of emergency.

there are specialized boom skimmers out in the water. the company plains pipeline which was created the pipeline that spilled said that over 2,000 barrels of oil were lost inland and at least a quarter of that reached the ocean. it is now spreading across an area, at least nine miles maybe more as it spreads literally in all the directions. deepening the tragedy is this is the season for many animals. the sea lions they are all moving to their feeding areas right now. and so we are seeing terrible scenes of those animals swimming right through this spill this is of course one of the most toxic things that man has ever created now that they are being ingested and touching those animals deepens the tragedy that everyone is responding to here.

meanwhile, a team of scientists say there is a definite link between a massive b.p. oil spill, and dolphin deaths across the gulf of mexico. >> caused by swimming in oil contaminates seas. b.p. has rejected the links between the oil spill and the dolphin deaths. >> sweden says it has scrambled fighter jets to intercept two planes flying over it's air space. for thousands of troops to protect them against a possible russian invasion. the move would break a packet made with russia that nato would never put permanent bases in former soviet countries. lawrence lee has this report from lithuania. >> it is a drill but the intention is real enough. the pilots have 15 minutes from the alarm sounding to take to the skies. they were scrambled for real, 150 times last year. to shadow russian aircrafts

over the baltics. the current lead nation. is norway. bly the italians this they say is all about reassuring the tiny baltic state. >> just basically showing the force, and thoughing them that they are here. >> lithuania looks at aides but the government is bringing back conscription to bolster the army. the military has been war gaining scenarios as well as an air war, should they fight the russians oen the streets or in the country side, to protect the capitol. as well as having russia to

the east, the enokay to the west. the trains carrying oil and russian troops pass straight through lithuania. feels surrounded. >> so as well as calling on nato this country with latvia has now formally requested a standing army of 3,000. that's a real test of nato's stated commitment. to protecting these countries. they are asking to get together with us, it is -- we ad for an interview but were refused. one of the dip la mates said to me, some people say we have our hand in everything.

>> for journalists. >> nato admits there has never been a single significant incident. any of the bat, i states for all that, these pilots practice this stuff over and over again. just in case they say they ever have to do it for real. >> privately some officials admit it looks strange to spend so much effort on prevents an air or ground war, that actually think extremely unlikely. but set against a western narrative of an unpredictable leader, they prefer not to take any chances. lawrence lee, al jazeera. now the world's old ohs tools have been discovered in kenya, opening up an intriguing question. the stone tools are 3.3 million years old this means they predate the emergence of modern human beings. it is forcing anthropologists

into a bit of a rethink because it is always been thought humans only started making tools around 800,000 years later. the latest on everything we are covering on our website the address for that is aljazeera.com.