cultural agency is sounding the alarm about isil fighters getting closer to the ancient city of palmyra in syria position is clear that heritage sites should not be used for military purposes but of course the news are alarming. i appealed yesterday to all parties concerned to protect palmyra and leave it outside of their military activity. >> it's famous for its 2,000 year old ruins. local activists say syrian par planes were attacking isil positions on the edge of palmyra. syria has called on the international community to protect the ruins. >>> a humanitarian situation in many rebel-controlled areas in syria appear to be worsening. government air strikes killed at least 39 civilians on thursday. our correspondent reports. >> reporter: for many syrian children this is the only way to find something to eat. some parents help them rummage through the garbage not far from 2k078 mass cuss. this woman says she struggles every day to feed her children. >> translator: what can we do? we don't have fuel neither electricity, even food. we don't have it. >> reporter: but that's not what you see on syria

in central syria. palmyra home to some of the world's most renowned historic sites, including the temple of ba'al, an ancient theater and a 2000-year-old colonnade. the fall of palmyra comes just days after fighters from the islamic state seized control of the iraqi city of ramadi, 70 miles west of baghdad. the islamic state attacked the city by sending in a wave of 30 suicide car bombs. ten of the vehicles were packed with enough bomb-making materials to carry out explosions the size of the blast of the 1995 oklahoma city bombing. amy: iranian-backed shiite militias are now staging a counteroffensive to retake ramadi. the united states is carrying out aerial bombings to support the effort. former state department official ramzy mardini told the military times -- "the u.s. has effectively changed its position, coming to the realization that shiite militias are a necessary evil in the fight against isis." the united states has also expedited shipment of 1000 additional at4 anti-tank weapons for iraqi forces. jo

> the monumental ruins of an ancient city at risk of destruction, isil fighters have entered palmyra in syriamadi, the capitol of iraq and palmyra in syria. carolyn malone reports. >> reporter: this appears to be the final stages of fighting for a city at the heart of syria. [ explosion ] >> reporter: isil fighters push syrian government forces out of palmyra. they are now in control of the city's infrastructure including the national hospital and security headquarters and of course thousands of people. >> translator: there are about 140,000 people here, including some displaited from homs. people are afraid. there's no water. we can only use local wells, and there's no power most of the time. >> reporter: it is surrounded by gas field, and has a political prisoner prison. >> the human cost in terms of the refugees has been huge but the cultural loss has been incall cuable. >> reporter: it is 20,000 years old and has priceless artifacts. some were bundled up and taken out of the city but much of the sites remain at risk. >> we may have different beliefs and views, but we have to protect these

. >>> i want to focus now on the ancient city of palmyra, syria, it's in the hand of isis fighters and antiquities and at their mercy. more on that. >> reporter: carol, we're talking about a city here which not only housed tens of thousands of people and probably still does isis are going street to street looking for regime sympathizers. it's a key part of the world heritage. this is where in the first century the monuments were put up artifacts you'll see there, breathtaking spectacle to behold in a town named after date palms that nourish themselves and still do on the onas roman empire meet asian cultures a vital part of the world's history. it's survived so much turbulence in the region in the past two millennia. but now potentially at risk with isis sledgehammers, we've seen them destroy as part of their general bid, destroy anything they appear to be idolatry. palmyra. 50 to 100 regime soldiers killed in that fight, now the civilians in the town apparently witnessing isis quote, everywhere going door to door looking for regime sympathizers. it's a convenient place, vital strategi

syria into her back. this comes after a week of military gains that include the ancient city of palmyra in syria and the key iraqi town of ramadi. more than 40,000 people have been driven from their homes by i.s. now the militants are moving east. iraqis are asking why their army could not defend them. we have this report from baghdad. >> the immense flow of refugees out of ramadi, which has continued all week, has finally been stopped. the iraqi government worried about the numbers flooding into baghdad and worried too, that islamic state fighters might infiltrate the crowd. they've now closed off the bridge along the route. ramadi fell because the iraqi commander there lost his nerve. he had 2000 men. islamic state only had 200. but they tricked him with some clever maneuvering. he ordered his men to get out of the city fast, and they were only too glad to go. thousands of ordinary people from ramadi are paying the price. a refugee cap's like these have been set up around baghdad. some shrewd observations about the way the iraqi army performed in ramadi. >> it's an iraqi army, but it's not united. the sol

they reported that the ancient city of palmyra, syria, home of 2,000 yearr-old ruins, and a u.n. world heritage site, is currently under threat, as islamic state forces move in, fighting against government troops in the area. at this point, the militants have been held at bay, but the destruction and looting of antiquities is one of the turmoil's many casualties. newshour special correspondent marcia biggs reports tonight on the fight to save them. it's part of our series on "culture at risk." >> reporter: it's as stark as night and day. this satellite photo from before and after the war. both are from the ancient city of apamea, founded in 300 bc. it was a hub of commerce and culture in the roman era. and it boasted one of the largest theaters in the ancient world, seating 20,000 people. today it is pockmarked with craters, evidence of massive looting on an industrial scale. syria's cultural heritage sites have been devastated by four years of war. some in the region are battling to save the country's history, but it's often times a life threatening race against the clock. we tr

they have seized ramadi, the capital of the western province and the ancient city of palmyra syria. this gives the state near dominance of the major arterial highway all the way to iraq's capital baghdad. eight months ago president obama began his campaign against the islamic state, but today iraqi forces are retreating and the iraqi prime minister is being forced to rely upon iran-linked shia militias to fight. militias detested by sunnis and the islamic state is spreading, and now has armed supports and nations including afghanistan, indonesia, libya, pakistan the philippines, nigeria, tunisia and yemen. many europeans have returned home to plot attacks. still the white house insists patience is the key. >> are we going to light our hair on fire every time there assetback in the campaign against isil or take very seriously or responsibility to evaluate those areas where we succeed. president obama's strategy is based on first beating isis on iraq and dealing with it in syria. why is isis still gaining ground in iraq? pat buchanan. >> let's talk about the obama strategy. he has don

syria. and a third of iraq. syrian government forces and the iraqi army are both in retreat. palmyra fell days after isis chased the iraqi army out of ramadi, a city of 500,000. isis is on the offense. its moment ultimate is unbroken by the u.s.-led campaign of air strikes. ramadi is the capital ofan bar province where 1300 americans lost their lives. david martin spoke with a former officer who is watching all he fought for lost to an iraqi army in disarray. >> reporter: when v.j. tedesco led a task force of 1,000 men and women into ramadi in the spring of 2006, it was probably iraq's most dangerous city. >> there was nothing but al qaeda in iraq. they had created a very dense and very sophisticated defense in depth usingof i.e.d.s and everything else. >> >> r: eporter: now retired,tedesco says his task force lost 14 tanks but tanks can be replaced. >> in nine months in ramadi we lost 17 soldiers, marines and sailors operating in my task force or in the areas i controlled, and we had more than 100 wounded. >> reporter: sergeant terry list was killed by a mortar round, nicholas gibbs

palmyra. government planes carried out airstrikes in retaliation. serious ancient city of -- >> syria'sity of palmyra in the hands of the islamic state. the jihadists have seized the military airbase can present and intelligence headquarters. >> it was a collapse of a sought' -- of assad's troops. the soldiers were retreating towards the south of palmyra. >> the city holds strategic importance with military installations and gas and oil fields. the jihadists has entered the site of the city's 200- 0-year-old -- 2000 year old ruins that are heritage listed by unesco. authorities have protected some monuments. >> we saved hundreds of beautiful statues under fire by snipers. two workers were injured in the process. now the question is how to protect the cemeteries and other monuments. imagine what would happen if this archaeological site became a battlefield between criminals and defenders. >> i.s. has prided itself on destroying ancient sites that it deems essential. it released -- it deems sinful. it released pictures of fighters destroying the city of nimrud and smashing artifacts in mo

ramadi, in iraq, and palmyra, in syria. ramadi is 100km from baghdad and is the last major city on the road to the iraqi capital. >> palmyra is 150km from syria's central province of homs, which is on a major crossroad that is strategic for the syrian government survival. the government invested man power and resources over the years to reclaim homs from the opposition. if it loses there, damascus, and the coastal region would be under threat. for now, i.s.i.l. controls the land. the land from palmyra to ramadi. in iraq, the fight against the armed group is led by shia militias, in syria, the u.s. coalition doesn't recognise the government's legitimacy. it doesn't have a partner on the ground. in recent months, i.s.i.l. may have been on the defensive. that has changed >>> today's suicide bombing in iron saudi arabia marks a first official claim of an attack. it comes as little surprise because they vowed to attack shi'as in the kingdom. john terrett joins us with the story. >> 21 were killed in a deadly blast, most if not ou

ramadi and iraq and palmyra in syria. ramadi is 100 kilometers from baghdad. is also the last major city on the road to the iraqi capitol. and palmyra is 150 kilometers from syria providence of homs which is on a major cross road that is strategic for survival and invests man power over the years to reclaim opposition, if it loses there damascus and coastal region would be under threat but for now i.s.i.l. controls the land between palmyra to ramadi. in iraq the fight against the armed group is led by shia malitia, in syria the u.s. led coalition doesn't recognize the government's legitimacy and also doesn't have a partner on the ground. over resent months i.s.i.l. may have been on the defensive, that has now changed. dana with al jazeera in baghdad. >>> the u.s. led coalition against i.s.i.l. says it is probably responsible for civilians deaths from air strikes in syria. the statement issued by the u.s. central command says a strike in the village near aleppo six months ago did likely lead to the deaths of two children. air wars who monitor the coalition air

ramadi and iraq and palmyra in syria, ramadi is 100 kilometers from baghdad and last major city on theto the iraqi capitol. and palmyra is 150 kilometers from syria's central province of homs which is on a major cross road that is strategic for the syrian government survival. the government did invest man power and resources over the years to reclaim homs from the opposition. if it loses there damascus and coastal region would be under threat but for now i.s.i.l. controls the land between palmyra to ramadi. it's led by shia malitias. >> translator: sunni politicians who want the tribes to be armed a long time ago are now calling for a new strategy. >> translator: today and bar has fallen and has significance because it's the third of the iraqi area and the province expelled al-qaeda years ago and not just and bar but a disaster with respect to iraq and the region and this is unacceptable and capacity of iraqs is very limited and should be a new strategic plan for iraq and the international coalition forces to terminate i.s.i.l. in iraq. >> reporter: in syria the u.s. led coalition does

. >> sreenivasan: tonight isis is maintaining control of the city of palmyra in syria. now we're learning more about how isis is treating the people of palmyra. for some insight we are joined via skype from istanbul by anne barnard of the "new york times." so this was the first city that isis took control of from the syrian government. have their tactics changed in what they do when they get into town? >> well, it seems there's a certain set of steps that isis has honed during the two years it started to accumulate territory in iraq and syria. they come in. they carry out some well-publicized atrocities -- beheadings attacking people who they think might oppose them and try to court favor with some other populations and alternate between the two. now, this is the first time that they've taken a town from the government and not from insurgents who had taken it previously. so strangely, here, they don't expect to have a rival for the antigovernment mantle so to speak. so some people are surprised that they have not been harsher with the general population especially since

syria. at least 400 people many women and children killed in palmyra. the streets are littered with bodies according to syria tv. let's get the latest from cnn's ian lee from cairo. ian ian, this is the worst fears coming to fruition. >> reporter: that's right, christine. when we see isis advance, we see the flood of people leaving the area. 11,000 people from palmyra. and ramadi several thousand people were fleeing. when isis takes over the city the reign of terror begins. they go door-to-door and they take them out and execute them. we are hearing reports anywhere from 90 into the hundreds from different groups and agencyies. we know this happens all over iraq and syria. we are hearing at least 11 children were also executed by isis and they have roughly 600 people taken prisoner. people that we are hearing worked for the former regime. as we have seen elsewhere in iraq and syria, the likelihood that they will remain captives is unlikely as we know they execute these people regularly. >> just brutal methods. no question. what about plans to try to reta

palmyra, the cradle of civilization is now in its hands. we have this report. >> this appears to be the final stages of fighting for a city at the heart of syria. isil fighters pushed syrian government forces out of palmyra. they are now in control of the the city's infrastructure including security headquarters. of course, thousands of people. >> there are about 140,000 people here, including some displaced from homes. people are afraid. there's no water. they can only use local wells. there's no power most of the time. >> had gone is surrounded by gas feeds and home to a prison where the assad government houses political prisoners. there's an airport and weapons depot. >> the military significance is mostly in terms of the prison. the healing costs in terms of the retch jesus and debt has been huge. >> the world heritage site is 2,000 years old and has roman era columnades and artifacts. some were taken out of the city for safe keeping. >> we may have different beliefs, we may have different views, but we have to protect such an incredible vestige of human history and i would appeal indeed, that destroying heritage will not achieve anything.

pressure for its policy on iraq and syria as islamic state makes increasing inroads in both countries. >> after seizing the strategic iraqi city of ramadi, i.s. has taken palmyra in syria. >> on mideast analyst will be on set to talk about the political significance for all the warring sides. first, we have this report. >> islamic state militants posted a video of their assault on palmeiro. on twitter, the group said it is now in complete control of the city. this amateur footage is said to show the fight for the ancient city as islamic state troops took over. palmyra is strategically located on it desert junction between homs and damascus. syrian forces are now cut off from the capital. syrian state television confirmed army forces withdrew from palmyra but only after ensuring most civilians have left. other sources claim tens of thousands of people are still trapped in the city. there are also growing tears that -- fears that i.s. could destroy the city's famous roman era ruins. many artifacts were moved before they took control, but the ruins are now under threat. unesco is urging the world community to save the world heritage site. >> we need indeed to hel

not being lost but many disagree isil has taken over two cities in a week ramadi in iraq and palmyra in syriaadi is near baghdad, and palmyra is on a major cross road that is strategic for the government survival. the government did invest power and resources over the years to reclaim homs from the opposition, if it loses there, damascus and the coastal region would be under threat. but for now isil controls the land. the fight between the armed group is being lead by shia militias. sunni politicians who wanted the tribes to be armed a long time ago are calling for a few strategy. >> translator: today anbar has fallen, and that as a special significant, because it's a third of the iraqi area and it's the province that expelled al-qaeda years ago. therefore, letting isil expand in anbar is unacceptable and there should be a new strategic plan for iraq and the coalition to terminate isil in iraq. >> reporter: in syria, the government doesn't have any partner on the ground. isil may have been on the defensive in recent months, but that is now changed. zana hoda baghdad. >>> the u.s.-lead coaliti

senior international correspondent shows us why palmyra is significant to syria and the rest of the world. >> reporter: palmyra for 2,000 years, columns and temples loomed over the oasis of syria, crossroads of roman, greek, persian, and babylonian influences now in a renewed territorial push. isis militants stand poised at the gateway of this so-called venice of the sands. this is what's happened in other towns and territories taken by isis. pillaged, hacked. sold. artisfacts standing for thousand of years as testaments to man's flights of imagination, deemed idoltry, winged gods dating back to 900, the museum, priceless artisfacts, isis left rubble the world helpless. palmyra, recognized as one of the most significant monuments in the middle east. now the u.n. is pleading with the world to find a way to save this symbol of our shared past. >> i don't know what is happening in palmyra, i am worried. alarmed by what is happening. let's hope this wonderful monument will not be destroyed like we have seen unfortunately in some of the other in some of the bulldozing and bombing of these site

fighters have broken into a museum in palmyra, syria. syrian officials say the antiquities have been removed and are safe. i.s.i.l. seized control. it raised concerns about the ancient temples and tombs, the u.s.-led coalition conditioned air strikes. in iraq i.s.i.l. conditions to fight for control of the anbar province. the group captured ramada. shia militias were deployed on saturday in a bid to prevent i.s.i.l. advancing on the strategic military base. >> there has been military reports against the islamic state of iraq and levant. shia militia men, and iraqi government soldiers recaptured the up to pushing i.s.i.l. out of the up to which is 7km from ramada. the iraq which forces were sent to the area to stop i.s.i.l. advancing further. i.s.i.l. took towns and villages since capturing ramada on sunday. the capture of - the aim is to protect the military base which was under threat earlier today. >>> the air base is the staging ground for the government's counter offensive against i.s.i.l. in anbar, in a show of support for the troop

. >> a museum in the captured city of palmyra, syria. syrian officials say the antiquities on display had been removed and were face. i.s.i.l. seized control. it raised concern about the temples and toons. the u.s.-led coalition continued air strikes on targets near the area >>> in iraq i.s.i.l. fights for control of anbar. the group captures ramada. shia militias and military will be deployed on saturday to prevent i.s.i.l. advancing on the strategic base. hoda abdel-hamid reports >>> this man makes enough money to just get by. like a lot of young men here not enough to get married. the problem here is not i.s.i.l. lee says it's unemployment -- he says it's unemployment. the city in southern jordan is closer to the border with saudi arabia than it is to the jordanian capital. many feel the distance. it has the highest poverty and unemployment rates in the country. the city has been neglected for decades. after i.s.i.l. burnt to death an air force pilot, the kingdom intensified its role in the u.s.-led war. some who made clear they don't

now, they've seized parts of home era -- palm era -- palmyra in syria. >> indonesia says they need international help to do with the influx of migrants. >> and some of the world's largest banks are hit with fines totaling billions for reading foreign exchange rates. -- a rigging foreign-exchange rates. >> the united states is taking an extremely hard look at its strategy in iraq after islamic militants captured the town of ramadi. >> he was officials also say they are sending 1000 anti-tank missiles to help iraqis fight off suicide bombs. >> iran has also offered military aid in the fight for ramadi, but it's feared that she is troops would lead to new tensions with the sunni majority. >> across the border in syria as well, islamic state is making major gains, including at the historic site of palmyra. >> these are the ancient ruins of palmyra. islamic state fighters are at the gates of this unesco world heritage site. many here -- many fear i.s. will destroy them as they have other cultural treasures. reports say i.s. took the city after clashes with government troops. now the president is send

not only ramadi but the ancient city of palmyra in syria, the most significant back-to-back isis victories in months, and jeff, today the syrian government said isis militants have executed at least 400 people since overrunning palmyra last week. >> glor: charlie d'agata in london, thank you. dramatic pictures out of nepal today weeks after devastating earthquakes. another disaster this landslide, about 90 miles northwest of kathmandu turned a river into a lake. the brief formed a dam, there is concern it may burst causing flooding up and down the valley. as a precaution, thousands of villagers have been evacuated. more than 70 protesters were arrested in cleveland overnight after a police officer was acquitted in the shooting deaths of two unarmed african- americans. as jericka duncan reports, this high profile shooting case another one, has the city on edge. >> reporter: hundreds of protestors took to the streets of cleveland last night, but there was no looting, no fires or real violence because of saturday's verdict allowing 31- year-old michael brilo to walk free. >> and therefore fin

of islamic state of iraq and the levant appears to have accelerated as they take control of palmyra in syria reporter: this appears to be the final stages of fighting for a city at the heart of syria. [ explosion ] >> reporter: isil fighters push syrian government forces out of palmar palmar palmar -- palmyra. they are now in control of the city and of course thousands of people. >> translator: there are about 140,000 people here including some displaced from homs. people are afraid. there's no water. we can only use local wells. and there is no power most of the time. >> reporter: palmyra is surrounded by gas fields and is home to a prison where the assad government houses prisoners. >> reporter: the human cost in terms of the refugees and death has been huge but the cultural loss has been incalculatable. >> reporter: the site is 2,000 years old. some artifacts were bundled up and taken out of the city according to activists, but much of the site remains at risk. >> we may have different beliefs. we may have different views, but we have to protect such incredible vestiges of human history,

the historic city of palmyra in syria, and for the first time the group took credit for a suicide bomback on a mosque inside saudi arabia. joinings us on the programme is james jeffrey, the american ambassador in iraq during the george w. bush administration and is a fellow at the washington institute. also with us nyara hawk a state department official during the obama administration. thank you both for joining us tonight. james jeffrey, you heard jamie mcintyre describing back and forth tempo of the battle. is it too soon to conclude something is working or not in this part of the world. >> first of all, it tracks with everything i heard. this is fundamentally different with mosul, where troops refuse to fight. the security forces have been fighting off the attacks for a year and a half. they weren't inexperienced. it was typical military problems that i knew in the army, a lack of unity of command. logistical problems. one unit pulls out. it's like a couple of players go up the field, and the rest of the players think he lost a couple of guys. they have a tendency to go off the fiel

now, they've seized parts of home era -- palm era -- palmyra in syria. >> indonesia says they need international help to do with the influx of migrants. >> and some of the world's largest banks are hit with fines totaling billions for reading foreign exchange rates. -- a rigging foreign-exchange rates. >> the united states is taking an extremely hard look at its strategy in iraq after islamic militants captured the town of ramadi. >> he was officials also say they are sending 1000 anti-tank missiles to help iraqis fight off suicide bombs. >> iran has also offered military aid in the fight for ramadi, but it's feared that she is troops would lead to new tensions with the sunni majority. >> across the border in syria as well, islamic state is making major gains, including at the historic site of palmyra. >> these are the ancient ruins of palmyra. islamic state fighters are at the gates of this unesco world heritage site. many here -- many fear i.s. will destroy them as they have other cultural treasures. reports say i.s. took the city after clashes with government troops. now the president is send

strategy to call climate change our most pressing issue given isis just took ramadi in iraq and palmyra in syria. here at home, two more isis sim pa tithers were arrested. they went to a new jersey high school to warn students about isis. clearly, isis is a major threat to our national security. but that's not all that ales america. high schoolers are portraying cops as brutal killers targeting the black community. while lawmakers are pointing their fingers at law enforcement from behind the security details and liberal academia is piling on blaming cops for the problems plaguing the black community. >> i want to be a teacher because i want to change the world. i wanted to make it a better place. i'm going to be honest with you. in a lot of ways i fear we are not there yet. if we were there, we wouldn't have conflict between police killing young black men. >> mr. president, the climate is not a threat and it's certainly not an imminent threat. in fact it's been a decade and a half in the hiatus of global warming and that is a fact so stop playing the american people. race relations are fragile.

ramadi, palmyra, and syria. ramadi is 100km from baghdad and is the last major city on the road to the iraqi capital. >> palmyra is 150km from syria's central province of homs which is on a major crossroad that is strategic for the syrian government survival. the government invested man power to reclaim homs from the opposition. if it losses there, damascus, and the coastal region would be under threat. for now, i.s.i.l. controls the land. in iraq the fight against the armed group is led by shia militias militias, in syria, the u.s. coalition coalition doesn't recognise the legitimacy. in recent months i.s.i.l. may have been on the offensive. that has changed >>> i.s.i.l. began its lightening advance through iraq and syria a year ago. the u.s.-led coalition began its air campaign, at the year's end the offensive slowed of the by march they had taken back territory. the group is believed to have a presence in more than as dozen country, and are currently there are 3,000 troops in iraq. right now, there's no americ

. >> of the capture of ramadi was quickly followed by the fall of palmyra in syria one week ago. syria's antiquities chief says for now the ancient city's artifacts are still intact according to staff members in palmyra. >> the unesco site is home to greek, roman, persian ruins, the kind isis has a record of destroying. isis spared the city, has not, i should say, spared the city's people reportedly murdering hundred since seizing control. we will stay on top of the story. coming up next for you here on "cnn newsroom." searing heat wave kills hundreds in india. temperatures there showing no signs of dropping. we'll bring you details on the people who are most vulnerable next. >> unrelenting barrage of storms claims lives and leaves destruction in the u.s. and mexico. the latest on the devastation. that's after this short break. stay with us. >>> very little relief expected over the next few days in india as the brutal heat wave there just drags on. >> more than 1,100 people have died in the soaring temperatures so far. malika kapur reports, the poor seem to be recovering the most

ramadi in iraq and palmyra in syria. ramadi is 100 kilometers from baghdad, the last major city on the road to the iraqi capitol. >> palmyra i also 150 kilometers from syria's central province of holmes, which is on a major crossroads that is strategic for the syrian government survival. the government did invest manpower and resources over the years to reclaim it from the opposition. as it loses there damascus and the coastal region would be under threat. for now isil controls the land between palmyra to ramadi. in iraq, the fight is led by shia militias. in syria the u.s. led coalition doesn't recognize the government's legitimacy. it also doesn't have a partner on the ground. over recent months, isil may have been on the defensive. that has now changed. zeina hodor, al jazeera baghdad. >> the u.s. led airstrikes in syria now total more than 4,000 over a nine month period. on thursday, there was an admission from the u.s. that one of those strikes near aleppo likely led to the death of two children. let's go straight to

but, on the other hand, they're on the offensive in alanbar, and palmyra, and syria. so the campaign is now in the balance. >> reporter: just a few days ago, secretary of state john kerry predicted ra mam mmadi wo back in iraqi hand within days. a senior state official said it is a serious set back and nobody is kidding themselves about it. barbara starr, cnn, the pentagon. >> well are learning new details about al qaeda leader osama bin laden. four years after his death. >> the u.s. has now released more than 100 documents seized from his home in pakistan in the raid that killed him in 2011. tom foreman has details. >> reporter: newly revealed in the now declassified bin laden papers, al qaeda sent agents to attack targets in united kingdom, europe and russia with emphasis on hitting americans whenever possible. so why did the attacks fail? according to the master terrorist it was bad luck. and god wasn't on our side. the papers show that in all the years since 9/11. bin laden's desire to strike am erica again. never let up. the main reason they continue to kill us i

ramadi and iraq and palmyra in syria. ramadi is 100 kilometers were baghdad. it is also the last major city on the the road to iraqi capital. and palmyra is 150 kilometers from syria's central province of homs, which is on a major ross cross road. they would reclaim homs from the opposition. as it loses there damascus in the coastal region would be under threat. for now isil controls the and a ramadi. in iraq the fight against the armed group is led by shia militias. over recent months isil may have been on the defensive. that has now changed. al jazeera baghdad. >> for the first time since coalition airstrikes began in iraq and syria last summer the pentagon is reporting civilian casualties officials saying that an u.s.-led airstrike most likely killed two children. kimberly halkett has more from washington. >> reporter: this is really the first time we have the pentagon acknowledging civilian deaths since the start of this u.s.-led campaign eight months ago. you're right this is the result of a four-month investigation the pentagon saying that these civilian

isil fighters have entered palmyra in syria. rrative has been that isil momentum had been stalled, but not anymore, it seems. the ramadi and now palmyra the cradle of civilization in its hands. carolyn malone reports. >> reporter: this appears to be the final stages of fighting for a city at the heart of syria. [ explosion ] >> reporter: isil fighters push syrian government forces out of palmyra. they are now in control of the city's 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 homs. people are afraid. there's no water. we can only use local wells, and there is no power most of the time. >> reporter: palmyra is surrounded by gas fields and is home to a prison where political prisoners are housed. >> the military significance is mostly in terms of the prison. the human cost in terms of the refugees and death has been huge but the cultural loss has been incall cuable. >> reporter: the site is 2,000 yea

has taken over two cities in a week ramadi and iraq and palmyra and syria. is 100 kilometers from baghdad and it's also the last major city on the road to iraqi capitol. and palmyra is 150 kilometers from syria's central province of homs which is on a major cross road that is strategic for the syrian government survival and the government invested man power and resources over the years to reclaim homs from opposition, if it looses there damascus and coastal region would be under threat but i.s.i.l. controls the land from palmyra to ramadi. in iraq the fight of the armed group is led by shia malitia. >> translator: sunni politicians who want the tribes to be armed a long time ago are now calling for a new strategy. >> translator: today anbar has fallen and has a significance because it's the third in the area and the problems that expelled al-qaeda not from here but all over and it's a big disaster with respect to iraq and the region and there for expanding here is unacceptable and capacity of iraq is limited and should be a new strategic plan for iraq and co

syria. ramadi and palmyra. they say that the policy has been wrong. we have to remember, last june when i.s.i.l. took control of much of the sunni heart land, sunni politicians who were in exile in northern iraq in the kurdish territories, their position was clear we will not attack i.s.i.l. on behalf of iran. they say the only way they will join fight is if being responsible of the security and governing their own territories. for them this is way forward but there is opposition in baghdad. because i.s.i.l. has been taking ground. even in syria the coalition doesn't have much choice. the coalition says it wants to train forces but if the coalition does have forces in syria it will be seen as helping the government. >> all right, zeina khodr, thank you. >>> united nations has condemned the attack on a mosque in saudi arabia. in the eastern town of kartif. three hour gun battle between mexican police and suspected gang members have left over 30 dead. john holman has more from mexico city. >> reporter: that sound is gun fire. and these people were kille

they expanded in syria overtaking a border crossing after taking palmyra in syria.hina accusing the united states of very irresponsible actions near disputed territory in the south china sea. china declaring victory after claiming it drove away a us surveillance plane with eight radio warnings to leave its international airspace. we follow china's rapid expansion of a man made island and a military build-up in that region. to join us about china's aggression the islamic state's gains, and the obama administration's strategy for all of it, ralph peters. author of the new civil war thriller called "valley of the shadow." how are you sir? >> i'm doing fine, how are you? lori: very well, thank you. the president doesn't believe we're losing the war against the islamic state. you say, what? >> well of course, we're losing the war. we're certainly not winning. lori, i can lay out a few things that i firmly believe. one, islamic state the caliphate is going to be a reality the ground in what's now or used to be iraq or syria long after barack obama leaves office. two, the

syria. at least 400 people many women and children killed in the ancient city of palmyra. according to syria and state tv the streets are littered with bodies. many bodies beheaded. i want to get the latest from cnn's ian lee live from cairo. this is exactly what officials feared that that town anybody who was loyal to iraqi military or anyone who resisted isis or deemed by isis to be an enemy would be killed. >> reporter: that's right, christine. that goes with what we have seen all over syria and iraq. isis militants going door-to-door searching every house for people who sympathized or helped with the government and taking them out. most times, executing them right there on the spot. we are hearing numbers anywhere from 90 to well into the hundreds of people who have been executed. now we haven't been able to independently verify these executions or the number but we know this is the sort of thing that takes place once isis takes an area. we are also hearing that roughly 600 people have been arrested. these are people that isis accuses of being part of the regime also th

before the start of the civil war in syria, the ancient city of palmyra was syria's top tourist attraction of people to its oasis and arc logical sites this year. earlier this week, there were reports isis made it towards palmyra. yesterday, there were reports they entered pam mira. today we got the news isis has taken control of the city. both the modern part and the ancient part. malmira was overrun by isis militants. there are reports in the city still has a large civilian population that is still present even though isis has arrived. militants are reportedly going door-to-door, they say looking for syrian soldier the notable thing about this particular takeover is this seals to be the first time that isis has seized control of a significant size city from the syrian government, from brought bashar al-assad's troops. previous takeovers in syria have been from other rebel groups or contested areas. but this was a city protected bety army. the official army of syria and bashar al-assad. with this gain, arguably, isis controls something like half of syria, including large portions of its o