Isil fighting shifts closer to Roman ruins of Palmyra

Jihadists reportedly destroy checkpoints and seize regime tanks as fighting rages a mile from ancient city

A Syrian policeman patrolling the
ancient oasis city.
Palmyra was given its name by the Romans, meaning City of Palms. Before
then it was known as Tadmor - the name given to it by the Semitics. Photo: JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images