SYRIAN troops were poised to take back the ancient city of Palmyra yesterday as Isis terrorists fled for the second time.

The official Sana news agency said troops had entered the ancient Roman ruins southwest of the city and were pursuing the retreating extremists.

That followed their seizure of the Palmyra triangle road junction, the 13th-century Palmyra castle and several hilltops on Thursday under heavy air cover, including supporting fire from Russian helicopter gunships.