Syrian military aircraft pounded ISIL positions in the ancient city of Palmyra, located 215 kilometers (133 miles) northeast of the capital, Damascus, and two other towns late on Monday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The aerial attacks came only four days after Syrian army jets carried out at least 25 airstrikes on terrorist positions in the ISIL-held city.

On May 21, ISIL took control of Palmyra, which is on the list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s World Heritage Sites.

Palmyra and Tadmur, the modern town that adjoins it, have been the scene of recent fighting between Syrian government troops and ISIL militants.

UNESCO has appealed to Syria’s warring factions to “make every effort to prevent” Palmyra’s destruction. ISIL has, however, ignored the calls and destroyed some of the city’s most famous antiquities, including the temples of Bel and Baal Shamin.

On August 18, ISIL extremists beheaded 81-year-old Khaled Asaad, who worked for more than 50 years as head of antiquities in Palmyra. Asaad’s mutilated body was then hung in public.

The conflict in Syria, which started in March 2011, has reportedly claimed more than 240,000 lives up until now.

The violence has also forced over 3.8 million Syrians to take refuge in neighboring countries, including Jordan and Lebanon. More than 7.2 million others have been displaced within Syria, according to the United Nations (UN); Press TV reported.