this is a military parade on the outskirts of the capital damascus. the biggest show of force by syrian rebels weeks after they captured the city of idlib. the army of islam is tasked with securing the capital once of regime of bashar al-assad is toppled. >> translation: today we stand united against the iranians. they want to spread their influence, they want a persian state established here. i assure you we will fight and defeat them >>> across the country rebels are shifting tactics. factions are merging under the army of conquest to capture idlib. now their eyes are set on latakia. bashar al-assad's stronghold. the u.s. has in the past reframed from arming syrian opposition fighters. they were concerned about its weapons landing in the hands of groups like al nusra front, and al qaeda affiliate. but nusra is now joining moderate groups in their fight to repel i.s.i.l. from syria. saudi arabia qatar and turkey provide significant assistance for cereal rebels. fighters hold ground in major cities. more groups are now considering joining forces to def

along with the capital damascus is one of the most important government-held areas of the country. >>> fighting continues in aden as the battle for its main airport intensifies. thousands of people have fled the strategic city and more than 400 people are believed to have been killed and 3,000 injure: >> as fighting escalates in aden there are few if anyone safe zones left. in this hospital one only of a handful still open. staff is struggling to cope while houthi fighters clash with popular resistence committees. as more injured arrive news of the death of a doctor killed during an artillery strict. two weeks later another doctor was killed by sniper fire. >> the situation here in our hospital is really miserable. we're under huge pressure. our staff are also under pressure. we're no longer able to deal with this. there is a shortage of equipment and medicine. >> niles is not yet one-year-old. he was with his grandfather when a bullet pierced his head. surgeons managed to remove it, but the violence remains part of his childhood. >> we were sitting at home when this incident happened

it's on a highway linking the capital damascus with the areas controlled by the fighters. the celebrated ruins are in the southeast of the city. it includes the remains of temples and colonnades part of what was a busy commercial town connecting the roman empire with persia india and china. some archaeologists call it venice of the sand. islamic state militants tweeted that they had occupied the area. a british based group monitoring syria says the militants have entered the ruins. the fighters have destroyed a number of historical artifacts in iraq for allegedly violating their prohibitions on idol worship. scholars are worried that the palmyra site may also be targeted. unesco officials have called for an immediate cease-fire in and around the city. >> i would appeal strongly to all sides once again to review strategies, to review military actions and to protect and preserve palmyra. >> reporter: syrian officials have already moved hundreds of statues to a safe place but they say they can't do anything about the buildings. >> translator: syrian people will defend the sit

palmyra capture is significant and it opens new routes for isis toward the capital of damascus. this comes after ramadi here in iraq. this is a very significant victory. isis is bogging the iraqi security forces down at this stage. at least those capable of standing up and fighting it in the back and forth running battles and sporadic attacks as they try to prevent isis from pushing further east to the capital. the iraqi government scrambling reinforcements or trying to the very different frontlines that exist in anbar province. saying it will arm the sunni tribes. the u.s. will certainly be forced to try to re assess the strategy when it comes to dealing with isis in iraq and syria syria. clearly at this stage, despite the stages when iraq was ableable to capture tikrit, isis is capable of emerging stronger. >> and taking two towns and two important towns in just five days. thank you for that arwa damon. >>> republican leaders are laying the blame for at the feet of president obama. they claim his failed foreign policies a problem for the u.s. they are looking to bring troops to

if the area is lost, the capital damascus is likely to fall to the syrian opposition >>> in other stories we are following, police in macedonia battle an armed group as ethnic tensions increase in the former yugoslavia republic. explosions have been seen on the roof of a house, where the group is believed to have barricaded themselves. medical workers say four policemen have been injured. it's not clear who the groups are or what their aims are. they were the result of a massive wire tap campaign. >>> investigators in stain is trying to find the cause of a crash that killed eight people. between eight and 10 were on board. it's thought there are no survivors, it was undergoing flight trials before being delivered to spain's military >>> the death toll from nepal's earthquake rose to more than 7,500. among them 19 dying on mount everest in an avalanche triggered by the quake. now the tourist claiming season cancelled, sherpa guys are worried about their livelihood. >> reporter: it's not what he's used to carrying on his back. for this man, getting the family supplies is just as important f

a report: >> reporter: this is a military parade on the outskirts of the capital damascus. the biggest show of force by syrian rebels only weeks after they care toured the city of idlib. the army of islam is tasked with securing the capitol once the regime of assad is topelled. the commanders tell fighters that defeating a regime backed by iran won't be easy. >> today, we stand united against the iranians. they want to spread their influence here they want to have a persian state established here i assure you that we will fight them and defeat them. across the country, rebels are shifting tactics. armed faxes merge under the army to capture idlib. now, hair eyes are set on latakia. strong assad's stronghold. the u.s. has in the past restrained from arming syrian opposition fighters. it was concerned about its weapons landing in the hands of groups like the nursa front, an al-qaeda affiliate but nusra is now joining moderate groups in their fight to repel isil from syria. saudi arabia qatar and turkey provide significant assistance for syria rebels. >> in yemen, the sawedees

it's key to prect the capital damascus. we know that rebels are in that area. they are from a coalition of rebel groups in the area. they are now relying on hit and run tactics. the death toll for hezbollah over the last two weeks of fighting stands at 25 at least fighters killed in the fighting. now separately and in another development in the capital, beirut, a military court sentenced a former minister to 4.5 years in prison. he was caught trying to bring weapons from syria into lebanon. he was accused of trying to carry out bombings and assassinations to destabilize lebanon. and cooperating with the syrian intelligence. that verdict is seen by the anti-syrian camp as lenient. one political member of the biggest parliamentary bloc in lebanon, the march 14th, said the verdict was a farce. >> police in baghdad said a shia group set fire to a center and the blaze then spread to houses. it follows reports that some were targeted with gunfire. zeina khodr reports from the iraqi capital. >> reporter: the overnight violence in baghdad was sectarian in nature. it hap

they are all north-western, the capital damascus inside syrian territory. hezbollah is talking about making gapes making coins on hill fops and inflicting casualties among the opposition. the coalition of groups including the al nusra front say they have repelled attacks and inflicted casualties on hezbollah. they are following a hit and run. they know the terrain, it's rugged and hard for hezbollah. further north in idlib, and others, we have rebels managing to infiltrate a hospital. that hospital has between 200 and up to 250 soldiers hold up there. that's when the town fell. the entire town and the wider province is considered a gateway to the city. that's the strong hold for the president >> reporter: a group linked to the taliban claimed responsibility for an attack on a bus in karachi. gunmen and motorcycles killed many people. it belonged to a branch of shia islam. >> reporter: this was bus was packed with commuters when gunmen stopped it and opened fire. dozens were killed. mostly a minority. investigators believe it was a planned attack. >> 9mm hand

last week the army of islam paraded on the outskirts of the capital waiting to secure damascus once the regime is toppled. in the north armed factions americaninged under the army of conquest to capture idlib. now they're focused on the stronghold of president assad. they say barrel bombs and attacks have increased in northern syria. around 200 regime soldiers are said to be sheltered in this hospital in a suburb after syrian rebels recaptured the city. this was the result of another government barrel bomb attack in aleppo. this rebel was a school building, which despite all the fighting in the city was still open. rescuers have dug through it, but they believe many of the dead and injured were children. >> translator: i urge king some mon on behalf of all syrians to turn the decisive storm towards syria. we cannot take this anymore. >> reporter: the political opposition leaders follow the campaign in yen mem led by saudi arabia. they want it to diminish and defeat assad's forces. >>> two u.n. peacekeepers have been hurt in the israeli-occupied golan heights. mortar rounds fired from sy

. >> reporter: this is a military parade on the outskirts of the capital damascus. the biggest show of force by syrian rebels only weeks after they captured the city of idlib. the army of islam is tasked with securing the capital once the regime of bashar al-assad is toppled. the commander tells his fighter that defeating a regime backed by iran will not be easy. >> translation: today we stand united against the iranians they want to spread their influence here, have a persian state established here. i assure you we will fight and defeat them. >> reporter: across the country rebels are shifting tack techs. in the north armed -- tactics. in the north armed factions merge to capture idlib. now their eyes are set on latakia. the u.s. has, in the past, refrained from arming syrian opposition fighters concerned about weapons landing in the hands of groups like al nusra front, an al qaeda affiliate. nusra is joining groups in their fight to repel i.s.i.l. from syria. saudi arabia qatar and turkey private assistance for rebels. >> in yemen the saudis discover they have powe

in 2013, united nations investigators confirmed the use of serin nerve agent outside the syrian capital damascus without establishing who carried out the attack. the u.s. and many other countries though have repeatedly accused the government of bashar al-assad of attacking the people with chemical weapons. accusations dismissed by the leadership in damascus. last month, united nations security council ambassadors were shown this video. doctors trying to revive three child victims of an apparent chlorine gas attack. it was too late. rebels say chemical attacks have increased in northern syria, following major gains by the opposition in idlib province. this is a military parade on the outskirts of damascus, the biggest show of syrian rebels only weeks after capturing the city of idlib. the army of islam is tasked once the regime of bashar al-assad is toppled. >> translator: today we stand united against the iranians, they want to establish a syrian state here, and i can assure you we will defeat them. >> army of conquest to capture idlib. now their people are set on attack here. is the u.s. has in

military terms, it does allow isis for quicker, easier access another route straight towards the capital damascusterms of the historical significance you were referencing, it would be absolutely devastating to all if isis were to destroy the ancient historic sites of palmyra, similar to what it did to a number of sites it took over here in iraq. of course there's the humanitarian toll in all of this that was caused by the fighting there, by the isis advance into the city. then the added significance of this is one of the few rare times, one must say, that isis and the syrian regime are battling out directly. isis tends to focus a lot of its efforts on winning back the bulk of its territory from the other syrian rebel groups. it doesn't necessarily take on the government in this kind of combat directly arrest territory from the syrian regime. that's also a fairly interesting development. perhaps a shift in how isis is planning on taking up even more territory inside syria. >> what are the people of palmyra able to do? just days ago when we were talking about ramadi only about a tenth of the popula

the regime wants to secure a key road connecting the capital damascus with homs, and on to president bashar al-assad's strong hold on to the western coast. it's a hard battle. the mountain range is vast and rugged. the syrian rebels are adopting guerilla warfare tactics and using the terrain as a hide out. that could prove hard for the syrian government jets and fighters to control or clear the area. >> despite hezbollah's attacks, syrian's rebels are powerful in the area. they say they repelled a number of attacks and are vowing to fight back. this battle is going to be a long one. it could spillover and deepen tensions there. >> and here in the u.s. we are tracking dangerous weather throughout the middle part of this country. tornado watches and warnings are up in the mid western and great plains. kevin corriveau is here with the latest. we have seen severe weather and situations out there. >> that's right. and all week long but we'll deal with a bit this seasoning. look at what is happening now. i want to give you the big picture. this is an area of low pressure. this is an area th

some parents help them rummage through the garbage not far from the syrian capital, damascus. >> ohalid in the town and her kitchen has looked like this for months. she says she stulingz every day to feed her children. >> what can we do? we don't have fuel neither electricity, even food. we don't have did. >> not what you see on syrian state t.v. where it looks like everything is under control. in this segment, happy children are seen preparing for exams. there is no mention of the war that has killed more than 200,000 people and continues to add to the 12 million people who desperately need humanitarian assistance. activists say the conditions resemble those. some agreed with a truce in exchange for badly needed food aid rebels say it's the only source of food and soldiers control everything. the assad government has sporadically allowed the red cross to diskilled but feed. >> we pray every single minute for god to send us food to feed our little children. anything. even bread. >> in geneva there is another round of talks in which the u.n. envoy is trying to bring all sides to the tabl

it's on the out skirts of the capital of damascus. in the district of idlib air strikes have reportedly killed 30 people. many of the victims are believed to be children. >>> three egyptian judges were shot dead just hours after former president mohamed morsi was sentenced to death for escaping from prison during the 2011 revolution. the attacks took place in the northern sinai, they were traveling to a court hearing. three other judges wounded in the attack on their man. rob has more on the death sentence. >> reporter: mohamed morsi is found guilty of breaking out of jail and sentenced to death. the muslim brotherhood now banned by egypt calls the court's decision politically motivated. it says executing morsi would be murder and the international community should stop it. it the response around the world is mixed. but some countries say action should be taken. >> translator: european union, western countries haven't you banned the death penalty. since you have banned the death penalty don't you have sanctions against those carrying o

the regime wants to secure a key road connecting the capital remainstol damascus with hommes and on to president assad's stronghold on the western coast. it is vast and rugged. syrian rebels are adapting guerilla warfare tactics and using the mount nance terrain as a hideout. >> could prove hard for hezbollah fighters to clear the area. they are vowing to fight back. the battle is going to be a long one. deep en the political fighting and somethingtarian tensions there. al jazeera, near the city and board -- syrian border. >> turkish prime minister has angered syria by briefly crossing the border to visit an ottoman tomb. the new mausoleum is 200 meters inside syria after being moved closer to turkey. the leader greeted troops stationed at the site which contains the remains of the grandfather of the ottomon's founder, os remains zman i. it was described as clear aggression. at least eight people have been killed in car bombings in iraq. the worst attacks happened north of the capitol baghdad. remains by security -- five security force members were killed while three civilians died in

the syrian army targeted rebel fighters but syrian rebels say they are advancing near the border and in capital damascus. the military defeats are a minor setback. >> we are, today, waging a war not to battle. and war is different in a battle. it is a number of many battles. when we talk about a fears war like the one happening in syria, across thousands of kilometres of borders and inside syria, we talk about not only dozens and hundreds, but thousands of battles. >>> the pentagon says iraq is not gaining ground in a fight to retake beijing oil refinery. sources tell al jazeera that the battle is continuing. a pentagon spokesman declined to predict the outcome, saying it's impossible to know how to play out. most comes from selling oil on the black market >>> iran says it released a cargo ship. iranian forces detained the "tigress." it carried no special cargo such as military equipment >>> the israeli government clinched is deal to form a government hours before a midnight deadline. binyamin netanyahu signed an agreement with the far right jewish home party, and other parties. his majority is extremel

last week the party of islam paraded on the outskirts of the capital waiting to secure damascus once the regime is toppled. activists say that beryl bombs and attacks have increased in northern syria following major gains. around 200 regime soldiers is said to be sheltering in this hospital after rebels recaptured the city. >> and this was the result of another barrel bomb attack in aleppo. this was a school building. rescuers have been digging through the debris, but they believe many of the dead and your ready children. >> i urge king salmon, i urge you to turn the storm towards syria. we can't take this any more. >> they're calling for similar action against the syrian regime to defeat assad's forces. >> the saudi-led coalition said that it's considering a humanitarian truce in yemen. this is to allow humanitarian aid. the spokesman has denied it is using cluster bombs in yemen even though human rights groups say there is credible evidence of their use. >>> hundreds of how migrants rescued from boats of the mediterranean in italy. more than 5,000 have been saved in the last 48 hour

in 2013 united nations investigators confirmed the use of sarin agent outside the capital of damascus without establishing who carried out the attack. >> the u.s. accused the government of attacking the syrian people with chemical weapons. accusations dismissed by the leadership in damascus. last month united nations security council ambassadors were shown the video. doctors trying to revive three victims of an apparent chlorine gas attack. it was too late. >> rebels say chemical attacks increased in northern syria following gains by the opposition in idlib province. that is a military par i had on the outskirts of damascus. the biggest show of force by syrian rebels weeks after capturing the city of idlib. the army is tasked of securing the capital once it's toppled. >> translation: we stand united. they want to spread influence and have a persian state established. i assure you we'll fight and defeat them. across the country rebels are shifting tactics. in the north armed factions merged under the army of congrestes to capture idlib. now the eyes are set on latakia. >> the huss has

city also gives them access to new oil and gas fields as well as a key highway that connects the capital damascus with eastern syria and there are reports which we cannot independently verify of hundreds of executions in palmyra including of children. anthony? >> holly williams in istanbul. thank you, holly. >>> a scare at a national memorial day concert. the capitol police bomb squad destroyed the pressure cooker offices found in an unintended car. a follow-up search revealed nothing hazardous. the car's owner was located and arrested. he's arrested with driving with a revoked license. >>> the national symphony orchestra and singer gloria estefan were among those honoring veterans. president obama will lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier and at the world war ii memorial a dozen surviving veterans will lay wreaths on the nearly 400,000 soldiers killed during that war. >>> police arrested dozens of demonstrators saturday after a white police officer was cleared in the shooting deaths of two unarmed black michael brelo fired 140 shots. now cleveland await as decision in another racially

of the loss of the city would open the road to the capital of damascus and homs. >> still to come on e program mali's rebels have backed out of the peace deal with the government. plus we'll report on how militias are leading the fight against the taliban in afghanistan's province. and after this, pepper spray one of argentina's football players are attacked. >> in spite of a five-day humanitarian cease-fire the truce is due to expire on sunday. that's when regional political leaders plan to meet in the saudi arabia capital of riyadh to try to end the crisis. but the houthis won't be there. well the u.n. said that since the conflict began more than a month ago more than 1,500 people have been killed. since the airstrikes started two months ago. nearly half a million yemenis have been displaced. the troops have helped those in need but it's concerned that progress is slow. al jazeeraal jazeera hashem ahelbarra reports. >> pro government fighters capture the city of taiz. but the government will send in reinforcement in the city. >> all of taiz is with the resistence of the houthis. the

the regime also wants top secure a key road connecting the capital forecast remains damascus with homes and to president assad's stronghold on the western coast. it's a hard battle the mountain range is vast and rugged. the syrian rebels are adopting guerr remains illa warfare tactics and using the terrain as a hideout. >> could prove hard for the syrian government jets and hezbollah fighters to fully control or clear that area. >> despite hezbollah's attacks, syrian rebels remain powerful in the area. they say they repled a number of attacks and are vowing to fight back. this battle is going to be a long one. it could easily spill over into lebanon and deepen the political infighting and sectarian tensions there. al jazeera, valley near the city and remains remains syrian border. >> at least eight people have been killed in car bombings in iraq. the west attacks happened just north of the capitol, baldad remains remains baghdad. five execute forces were killed while three civilians were killed in taji police in northern macedonia say they have defeated a group of ethnic albanian fighte

syrian army said today there was a suicide attack near government offices and embassy in the capital of damascus. as victoria gatenby reports officials of bashar al-assad's army launched initiatives in other areas. >> majorend mohamed ede was injured in the suicide bomb attack. he's the military's ahead of logistics. >> using a suicide attack rising on a bike according to eye witnesses, followed by sporadic clashes which indicate there might be another group of individuals trying to take general's life. >> nusra front has changed tactics, in the fight against bashar al-assad and his forces. last week the army of islam paraded once to secure damascus once the regime is toppled. in the north armed force he marched to capture idlib. now they're fowked on the attack of president assad. barrel bomb and chemical attacks have increased in northern syria, following gains in idlib province. around 200 soldiers are said to be sheltering in this hospital after syrian rebels recaptured the city. and this was the result of another government barrel bomb attack in aleppo. this rubble was a school building whi

city also gives isis access to new oil and gas fields as well as a key highway that connects the capital damascus with eastern syria. and there are report which is we can not independently verify of hundreds of executions in palmyra, including of children: anthony? >> holly williams in istanbul, thanks holly. >>> in washington the discovery of a pressure cooker caused a scare before sunday's national memorial day concert. the capitol police bomb squad destroyed the pressure cooker. officers found it in an unattended car. a follow-up search revealed nothing hazardous. the car's owner was located and arrested. the virginia man faces charges of driving with a revoked license. >>> that bomb scare did not disrupt the concert a few blocks away. the national symphony orchestra and singer gloria estefan were among the performers honoring service members. president obama will visit arlington national cemetery in less than an hour to lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier. at the world war ii memorial, a dozen surviving veterans laid wreaths to honor the more than 400,000 americans killed in that

last week the army of islam paraded on the outskirts of the capital wait to go secure damascus once the regime is toppled. in the north they're focused on the strong held of assad. activists say that barrel bombs and chemical attacks have increased in northern syria following major gains by the opposition in idleb province. around 200 regime soldiers are in this hospital in the suburb of i had lip after rebels recaptured this city. >> and this was the result of another government barrel bomb attack in aleppo. this republic was a school building which despite all the fighting in fighting in fighting in the city that was till open. rescuers are going through the debris but they believe that many of the dead are children. >> i urge all syrians to turn the storm towards syria. we cannot take this any more. >> the syrian opposition political leaders have been following the campaign in yemen led by saudi arabia. they're calling for similar military action against the syrian regime to diminish and defeat assad's forces. >> coming up next on al jazeera, people in london are saying that they're

and i highway linking the capital of damascus. leaving people trapped. >> people are afraid, and there's no water and they can only use local wells. there's no power most of the time. >> one third of the city's residents may have fled. and already also reports that isil has executed 14 civilians. palmyra 1 surrounded by gas fields. and this video online is said to show isil fighters entering a pumping station east of the city. the city is also home to the prison where they house political prisoners. there is also an airport and a weapons depot. >> the human cost and the refugees has been huge, but the cultural loss has been i be calculable. >> palmyra 1 home to a 2,000-year-old heritage site with priceless artifacts. local activists said that some were bundled up and taken out of the city. but much of the site remains at risk. >> we may have different beliefs and different views but we have to protect such incredible vestiges of human history. and i would appeal, indeed that destroying heritage will not achieve anything. >> activis

regime population center and this does potentially give them a straight highway move toward the capital damascus run by the regime. troubling indeed isis still having that momentum. >> this is a vital moment as you say, nick. thanks so much. we'll check back in with you. across the border with iraq isis still destroying ancient artifacts there. arwa damon joins us with the latest live from baghdad. good morning, arwa. >> reporter: good morning, alisyn. and that is why the concern for palmyra is so sharp because exactly what we saw isis do when it took over a series of ancient sites here in iraq showing complete disregard of the value they hold for civilization for humanity's history. isis not just taking over palmyra but also making strategic significant gains in al anbar province with the capture of ramadi. the main front lines are located around an area where there is a military base and it's located right between ramadi and fallujah both under isis control. we spoke to an army commander there. he said they were beefing up their positions in the various towns towards ramadi to ensure that isis

have been executed by isis fighters in palmyra, an ancient city located 130 miles from the syrian capital of damascusmeantime in anbar province in iraq, coalition forces launched new air strike at isis dark threats. the goal to keep terrorists away from a key iraqi military base and the country's capital of baghdad. isis has been on the tear matching east toward baghdad since capturing the key city of ramadi last weekend. and in a cnn exclusive interview, u.s. ash carter said the fall of ramadi was proof the iraqi military lacked the will to fight. joining me now, cnn correspondent, athena jones, at the white house. carter offered a harsher assessment than what we have heard from other members of the obama administration. >> hi fred. that's right. very tough words from the defense secretary, of since the fall of ramadi in iraq and the fall of palmyra in syria this week, a lot of discussion about whether the u.s. knees to change its entire strategy to ensure isis is defeated. secretary carter said a big part of the problem is the iraqi forces themselves. take a listen. >> we can give them training we

the suburbs of damascus. local media say the militants continue their offensive around the capital and southern cities on tuesday ppdz the turmoil that began more than four years ago has killed over 220,000 people. about 4 million have fled to jordan turkey and other neighboring countries. >>> members of a japanese medical team have begun operating on severely injured survivors of the earthquake that struck nepal late last month. bahrabise is 75 kilometers from the capital kathmandu. the town's only hospital collapsed in the quake. over 90% of its buildings were damaged. a japanese team has been working at a makeshift base. doctors began carrying out surgery on tuesday. they had received equipment for general anesthesia and tents from japan. one man was waiting for surgery after being transported from a mountain village. his son had heard japanese doctors could help out. >> translator: it took seven hours to come all the way here. >> translator: some patients could suffer from after-effects or even die if they can't have the operations they need. i think it's very significant to make medical support available to

damascus once the regime is toppled, and despite the difficulties are the fighters are determined to succeed. >>> damascus remains a strategic base. this is why it does all it can do protect the capital all together and, in order to maintain the operations on the ground. but we're doing all we can and everything that is possible, in order to defeat them. >>> in the north armed facts emerged, to capture it, and now, the stronghold of the president, and chemical attacks have increased in northern syria, followed by major gains around 200 soldiers are said to be sheltering in this hospital, after syrian remember me bells recaptured the city. >>> and this was a result another government barrel bomb attack. this rubble was a school building which despite all the fighting was still open. rescuers have been digging through and, they believe, many of the dead and injured are children. >>> i urge him on behalf of all syrian to turn the storm towards syria, we cannot take this any more. >>> political opposition leaders have been following the campaign in yes yemen and they're calling for similar action against syria, to defeat the forces. >>> much more is coming, including helping the people o

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 help the security council. we need to help all political leaders. we need also to launch an appeal on the prevention of this destruction. >> islamic state's offensive continues. the group also posted videos of what it says is its riders in control of a gas-build northeast of palmyra -- gas-filled northeast of palmyra. >> were pleased to be joined by a middle east analyst. thank you for being with us. first of all, palmyra has become a political symbol for everyone involved at this point. why has it become so import

the capital. >>> in a separate area near damascus at least 15 syrian soldiers were killed. dozens of soldiers were also injured. >>> well antigovernment groups say that they are making more gains in syria. bernard smith has more now on that story from the turkish syrian border. >> this is desserted talk an alliance of 18th government group just three days to take this city from government forces after a standoff of three years. almost all of idlib province in northwestern syria is now under the control of this alliance that calls itself the conquest army. it includes the powerful al nusra front and affrar el sham. >> in the last months we tried to take just al shegura bus buttra but we couldn't. now allied we could. >> it's what really matters controlling jushra shahur, idlib, from here we can launch assaults towards the coastal areas. >> reporter: those coastal areas are the heart land of the minority alloite community to which the president bashar al-assad belongs. the main port in syria and along with damascus is one of the most important government-held areas in the cou

the outskirts. despite difficulty nice fighters are determined to succeed. damascus is a strategic base. this is why it does all it can to protect the capital. in order to maintain a stril on the operations on the ground. everything that is possible we do to defeat them. >> in the north armed factions merged under the army of conquest to capture idlib. they are focussed on latakia's strong hold. barrel bomb and chemical attacks have increased following gains by the operation in idlib. around 200 soldiers are said to be sheltering in the hospital. in a suburb of idlib after syrian rebels recaptured the city. this was the result of another government barrel bomb attack in aleppo. this was a school building which, despite the fighting in the city was open. rescuers have been digging through the debris. they leave many of the dead and injured are children. >> i urge king salman on behalf of all syrians to turn the decisive storm to syria, we cannot take this any more. opposition leaders have been following the campaign in yemen led by saudi arabia. and are calling for military action against the regime to diminish and receive bashar al-assad's f

isis is taking control of the city a world heritage site located well 150 miles west of damascus the capital one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient world. scrambling to say the ancient art f artifacts syria's chief says hundreds of statues have been moved out of the city to a safe location. micah, i want to know where is the plan to defeat and destroy isis? >> isis has now been on a rampage for a year and a half. seen the christian genocide and slaughter of american citizens and seen destruction of the priceless rampages across iraq -- they're fluttering hundreds of thousands. >> anxious the question where -- >> we don't have one. remain without having a plan. president is not engaged in this fight. he has or ordered aircraft to bomb bases for isis but he's not going after the core or after their basis in syria so they on helicopter to answer. on the scene ab year and a half ago they're now 20% stronger in terms of the territory they control. so they're winning. by the way this international coalition that the president -- was, you know, touting a couple of months ago now

the outskirts of damascus. >>> it was bomb on friday. >>> isis fighters have claimed respons ability for twin bombs which killed 13 people in the capital, the bombs went off minutes apart and iraqi officials say, they are hiding along refugees, and now from the capital. >>> it's been a bloody few nights this neighborhood was rocked by two bombs late sunday. >>> the latest attack, was committed by the islamic state and the fighters coming into baghdad, disguised as displaced residents. isis has claimed responsibility billion the bombs. >>> those fleeing it have wound up in camps like this. they are afraid of revenge attacks,. >>> this is all nonsense, we fled isis and, we came with the clothes on our backs,. >>> we're all iraqi why do they blame us? so many have dismissed and he's as community leader and in charge of the camp. >>> this is a move by politicians to inflame sectarian hatred, it is mainly women and baby and, there's no isis here. >>> baghdad used to be almost split, the demographics changed as many sunnies left. >>> the violence, and in 2006, and 2008, it's still being felt today. since then,. >>> the communities stick to t

the area falls into opposition hands, damascus would be next. it could cut off bashar al-assad at hits strong hold from the north-west of the capital. they say they are gaining the upper hand with few losses on the battlefield. 40 hezbollah fighters were killed before announcing a strategic withdrawal from the area. the army of groups leading the fighting is one of many part of a new group. hezbollah deployed 85% to fight in syria, leaving 15 rz on the border with israel. and damascus inspectors found traces of sarin gas and a nerve agent on the sites. samples taken from experts in december and january tested positive. it comes with increased regime attacks, the latest of which was an attack in idlib province, more than 70% were affected. >> we believe the factual record was straightforward and devastating in terms of regime use. as a factual matter, it is true that no one is mandated to establish attribution for the attacks, and we need to fix that. >> away from the fighting, in the southern city, the opposition is restoring historical signs that have been damaged during the war. the project is aimed at clearing and restoring the t

are through from the capital, after it fell to opposition fighters and they've been battling from key positions and, it is important as is the province, because it is the gateway to damascus. >>> stated back sexual violence, in egypt has increased since the military take core, according to a report, by the human rights it accuses security forces of subjecting dement niece to gang rape and tests, and the report suggests in men women ask children are being abused to eliminate public protests and found them responsible for carrying out those. the authorities involvement and cad they are rent bath will tell us. what we do know they're being committed in many different areas of egypt in police stations and in detention centers, and in then official detention sites, as well as at checkpoints during security checks. and so, this very wise spread nature of the crimes, which are known to those responsible these agents and, nobody has been held to account and would candidate that this is tolerated by the egypttient authorities if not encourage he. >>> still to come, protests in support of protests in china turns ugly as the police are accused of using excessive force. >>> teachers

where iran today is in the control of the capital of yemen and also in baghdad and damascus and beirutegotiation against iran but having puntshed back. including those in houthi yemen and led to the strategy in yemen. >> the iraq backed group, the houthi rentalbels. the u.s. government either now has to rescue americans abroad or become a target for armed groups like al qaeda backed rebels. which do they choose? if they choose not to help are they not giving into al qaeda and therefore sending the wrong message to the mideast? >> what's happening is you have a battle between al qaeda and the arabian peninsula la on one hand and the iranian backed houthi rebels on the other. and essentially we have lost our ally in yemen and we're losing allies all throughout the mideast. and this is essentially a sectarian war between al qaeda and the sunni backed extremeistextremists. so the united states has to make a clear statement that we'll go anywhere to protect our citizens and we'll also not let the region be essentially inflamed by the sectarian war particularly with iran on the march. >> acc

the iraqi capital. >> palmyra is 150 kilometers from syria's province of homss a major cross road that is strategic for the government's survival. damascus and the coastal region would be under threat if it loses there. but for now isil controls the land between palmyra andrea mad di. in iraq the armed group is being led by shia militias. >> sunni politician who is want wanted to take arms a long time ago are now calling for a new strategy. >> today anbar has fallen, and that is of special significance because it's the third iraqi area and it's an area that dispelled al-qaeda years ago. and not just from anbar but from all over. and this is unacceptable and the capacity of the iraqis is very limited. there should be a new strategic plan for iraq and the international coalition forces. >> in syria the u.s.-led coalition does not have a partner on the ground. it does not recognize the government's legitimacy. over recent months isil may have been on the defensive. that has now changed. al jazeera baghdad. >> well, iraq's vice president said that many requests were made for help in ramadi, but they never came. >> there were contentious dema

damascus. if it falls to the opposition, president bashar al-assad's northwestern stronghold will be cut off from the capital. >>> well anti-government groups in syria have increasingly gained the upper hand in the last few weeks with the capture of key towns further north in idlib province. bernard smith has more from the turkish-syrian border. >> this area is deserted. it took anti-government groups three days to take this city from government forces after a stand off for three years. almost all of idlib province in northwestern syria is now under the control of this alliance that calls itself the conquest army. it includes the powerful al nusra front and. >> we tried hard to take the area. we couldn't because we weren't coordinated or appropriate. now that the group is united we took the town. >> while most of the fighters are leaving, it's the strategic significance of this city that really matters. >> it means that we can cut the government supply roads on the west coast to to aleppo and idlib and then launch towards the coastal areas. >> those coastal areas are the heartland of the minority alawite com

and being shiite, the power that iran is building, it dominates four capitals in addition to its own. >> what are they? >> it would be in yemen, in damascus, in -- >> baghdad. >> baghdad and. >> lebanon. >> lebanon. >> so they're winning the battle against the sunnis. >> well, they are scaring the devil out of the sunnis. and that is one thing, i think, that has happened with the pulling together of isis. that is not the only thing, but when passions get so great, as they do in a chaotic situation like this, the angrier and more ideological people come to the fore, and that's what's happening with isis. >> michael kay -- i'm sorry, michael kay, what's your sense, what caldron created the isis, who are sunni people, who don't like the shias who are running baghdad, don't like the people, the al whites who are running syria, and they're right there in the middle, building a country that at some point is going to be like jell-o. it's going to gel and become a country, if we don't blow it apart sooner. >> chris, can i start at the beginning? there's accountability at all layers of government, at the time in 2003. it starts at the executive br