Syria cease-fire unravels with renewed fighting, ISIS mass grave found in Palmyra

Syrian troops have found a mass grave containing the bodies of 42 people executed by Islamic State jihadists in Palmyra, as Washington warned the group’s leader will eventually “taste justice." ISIS has in recent months claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in Brussels and Paris but has lost ground in Syria and Iraq. Days after Syrian troops backed by Russian forces recaptured Palmyra and its ancient ruins, the army discovered the mass grave, including the bodies of women and children.

They were executed either by beheading or by shooting.

Syrian military source

Meanwhile, Syria’s partial cease-fire is unraveling, as fierce fighting between government forces and opposition fighters, including members of the al-Qaida affiliated Nusra Front, erupted Saturday outside the country’s second largest city of Aleppo. The United States and Russia, which engineered the cease-fire agreement, had hoped a halt in fighting would cause opposition factions to distance themselves from extremist groups like the Nusra Front. Instead, factions seem to have united in their opposition to the government.

The truce is considered over. This battle is a notice to the regime.

Zakariya Qaytaz of the Division 13 brigade, through Twitter

Syria