Syrian government forces have recaptured Palmyra, state media and a monitoring group say, inflicting a significant defeat on the Islamic State group which seized the city last year and dynamited its ancient temples.

Syrian television quoted a military source on Sunday saying the army and its militia allies took complete control of the city and were clearing mines and bombs laid by the militants.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there was still gunfire in the eastern part of the city on Sunday morning but the bulk of the IS force had pulled out and retreated east, leaving Palmyra under President Bashar al-Assad's control.