Overnight strike on underground facility near Palmyra was meant to prevent any resurgence of Islamist group and posed no risk to civilians, say allies

Heightened security measures prevented attacks on churches and civilian gatherings, the Interior Ministry said.

Khaberni - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani said on Saturday evening that Iraqi-Syrian relations continue based on a common strategic interest, and we are in contact

Syria said Thursday a suicide bomber who killed a security forces member in Aleppo on New Year's Eve was in the Daesh group, which planned attacks on churches and gatherings. Deash recently increased its attacks in areas of Syria controlled by the Damascus authorities, and was blamed for an attack last month in Palmyra that killed three Americans.

As the U.S.-backed terrorist group YPG was holding talks in Damascus on the March integration deal on Sunday, prominent tribes of post-Assad Syria