US Has No Plans to Help With Demining Palmyra - State Department

The US doesn't plan to participate in demining of Palmyra.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States is not planning on helping demine Palmyra that was recently retaken from Daesh by Russia-backed Syrian forces in order to facilitate access for UNESCO to the site, US State Department spokesperson John Kirby said in a press briefing on Monday.

“I don’t foresee nor I am aware of any discussion about the United States participating in demining exercise there in Palmyra to allow UNESCO to get in,” Kirby said.

However, the United States supports Russia’s efforts to help demine Palmyra.

"This was discussed during the Moscow visit. Foreign Minister [Sergei] Lavrov did express to Secretary [John] Kerry their willingness to try to help UNESCO get in there. And again we would support that," Kirby stated.

On Sunday, the Syrian army, supported by militias and the Russian Aerospace Forces, recaptured the historic city, which had been under Daesh control for about a year.

The city of Palmyra and its historic ruins had been under Daesh control since May 2015. The jihadist group, which is outlawed in many countries, including Russia and the United States, destroyed part of the ruins, which are a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.