Syrian forces recaptured their holy city of Palmyra from ISIS on Sunday, March 27, according to CNN.
The Russian Air Force played a key role in taking back the city, which fell into the Islamic State’s hands almost a year ago. “This victory helps in further tightening the noose around ISIS terrorists,” the army told a local news agency. The terrorists had destroyed ruins considered to be among the world’s most treasured.
On Friday, April 1, Syrian army experts detonated hundreds of mines placed around the city which destroyed several historical locations, according to the Associated Press. Experts said they believe Islamic State militants planted the mines before fleeing Palmyra.
“It is a moral boost for the people in Syria and those fighting ISIS, because it shows progress, no matter how little it is,” said Emily Clark, a sophomore from Utah majoring in biomed. “ISIS is only human too and can’t conquer everything.”
Although ISIS is losing ground, students from the United States said they don’t fully support the American government’s tactics. “What we are currently doing is just feeling the fire,” said Ciarra Butler, a senior from Arizona majoring in intercultural studies.
Butler said America and Europe are just giving ISIS what it wants. “They want us to be afraid and to fight,” she concluded.
“European and American media shouldn’t always reason by religion, race, and ethnicity,” said Natalie Demartini, a BYUH alumna from California. She pointed out how Americans and Europeans have committed atrocities as well.
By blaming people and cultures we don’t understand, she warned, “We ask for the problems ourselves sometimes. We contribute more to the conflict than we believe.”