Syria’s civil war

Syrian rebels launched a surprise attack on the capital city of Syria, Damascus, on March 19, using artillery and car bombs to target government forces in​ the Jobar district, near the city center. The Syrian military pushed back the rebels, and more than 30 other rebel positions in the city were targeted by air strikes. 

Separately, on March 2, Syrian forces backed by Russian air strikes retook, for the second time, the ancient city of Palmyra from forces of the Islamist militant group Daesh (ISIL). Syrian forces had driven Daesh from Palmyra in March 2016, but the group took it back in December. 

Even more sections of the Roman-era ruins, already much destroyed by the group, were damaged during the second occupation by Daesh.