Airstrikes reported around Syria's Palmyra

MOSCOW — A Syrian opposition monitoring group is reporting intense airstrikes in and around the historic town of Palmyra amid fighting between pro-government forces and the Islamic State group.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says there were casualties on both sides in Tuesday's battles, without providing a precise figure.

Al-Manar TV, run by Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group, says Syrian troops and their allies captured "Hill 900," which is the highest in the area and overlooks Palmyra.

Hezbollah is fighting alongside forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Palmyra, home to famed Roman ruins, has been under the firm control of ISIS since the extremists captured it in May last year.

ISIS and al-Qaida's branch in Syria, known as the Nusra Front, are not part of a cease-fire that was brokered by Russia and the U.S. and went into effect on Feb. 27.

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