In Syria, Islamic State (IS) militants have beheaded four people and shot eight dead in the city of Palmyra. The UK based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that four teachers and state employees, four government soldiers and four captured rebels were killed. Some of the killings took place in a museum yard near the city's UNESCO-listed ancient ruins. IS retook the site and nearby city last month, after being pushed out in last March.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, a Russian Defence Ministry official said that the Mosul offensive is pushing IS fighters back into eastern Syria. He said the Islamic State group is shipping large amount of explosives to Palmyra in order to blow up more of the heritage site.<br/>