On Palmyra News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Very critical. in syria, isis is tightening the grip on palmyra. dumping decapitated bodies in the historic streets. they are calling on citizens to turn in government soldiers. for the latest i want to get to senior correspondent ivan watson. ivan you heard from the white house that its strategy is working. we see these gains quickly and each of these gains, ivan gives the terrorists more money and more ammunition and more iraqi army gear and i guess more confidence. >> reporter: absolutely. they will likely play this to the hilt for propaganda reasons and get more recruits and maintain momen...

Than a decade ago. that is part of what just simply overwhelmed the iraqi security forces in that town. the pentagon says that it is going to rush some 2,000 anti-tank missiles to the iraqi security forces to try to give them some kind of defense against what are basically construction trucks and bulldozers that are wrapped in makeshift armor and loaded with explosives. something straight out of a "mad max" movie, but terrifying for people who are not themselves suicidal fighters on the battle field in iraq. >> there have to be iraqi troops willing to stay and use them. that is a problem. ivan...

Bodies in the streets and calling on citizens to turn on the citizens left behind. this brings on the fate of the price less ancient ruins. cnn's ian lee is reporting for us. the isis advance in palmyra is actually gaining more territory. really taking that town and solidifying control of the town. >> reporter: that's right, christine. as we heard from aivan as well. isis is pushing out and gaining territory. latest prize, palmyra. there are a lot of ramifications there. you have civilians. tens of thousands trapped there, as you said, killing people who they see as a threat. we heard at least...

Marched on palmyra in syria. these are three major operations isis has mounted concurrently all of which suggests that the strategy is not succeeding like gangbusters, so this could be very well designed to say, hey, look we can still you know kick butt and take names, it's not the first time special operations forces have gone into syria and i don't just mean the abortive or unsuccessful unfortunately rescue attempt for james foley last year in 2008 jsox, joint special operations command launched an operation to kill abu gadiya a border amirror a runner of the so-called rat lines of jihadis c...