Tourists return to ancient fortress in war-torn Syria once used by Islamic State jihadists

An ancient lakeside fortress in Syria that was used in recent years as a base for jihadists to launch attacks, is slowly regaining its status as a key cultural destination for tourists. The Qalaat Jaabar citadel fell under the control militants as an uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2011 turned into a full-scale conflict and civil war. The multi-sided conflict soon involved local, regional and international powers including Islamic State jihadists who became the dominant force in the armed opposition. They held the fort in 2014 until 2017 when US-backed Kurdish fighters retook the site. Five years later, security has improved in the area enough for the 11th century Islamic-era landmark to start attracting a growing number of visitors.