Syria: Palmyra citadel liberated from IS by army - exclusive Ruptly gained exclusive footage shot in western Palmyra on Wednesday following the Syrian Arab Army's (SAA) liberation of the of the citadel from the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL). IS regained control of Palmyra in December last year They had previously captured the historic city before being dislodged by the SAA in March 2016.