ISIS News: Terrorists Destroy Ancient Roman Arches in Syrian City Palmyra
ISIS, also known as the Islamic State, destroyed another ancient landmark in the city of Palmyra, Syria, the latest monument to fall prey to the group's destruction.
According to the New York Times, Islamic state militants blew up a set of triumphal arches that have stood since the second century. The triple arch was built by the Romans to celebrate a victory over the Persians.
The Islamic State has targeted and destroyed several ancient sites in Palmyra, known to Syrians as "the Bride of the Desert." Militants seized the city oasis from government forces in May, bringing much destruction to a world-renowned archeological site and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Middle East.
The arches' demise was reported by opposition activist Khaled al-Homsi through Twitter on Sunday. He is the nephew of antiques scholar Khalid al-Asaad, whom many believe was executed by Islamic State militants after the city's capture.
ISIS has attempted to eliminate any monuments and structures they deem idolatrous in accordance with their extreme interpretation of Islamic law. The terrorist group is also responsible for the destruction of the Temples of Baalshamin and Baal, two incredibly important ancient sites dating back nearly 2,000 years.
ISIS militants have also destroyed other religious buildings, such as churches and mosques, and they have targeted museums as well. Their actions have garnered concerns and criticism from several international organizations, including the U.N. heritage agency (UNESCO), which condemned the destruction as an "intolerable crime against civilization."
"This new destruction shows how terrified by history and culture the extremists are, because understanding the past undermines and delegitimizes the pretexts they use to justify these crimes and exposes them as expressions of pure hatred and ignorance," UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova said in a statement.
Palmyra residents have also endured bombings and airstrikes from government forces.
Though forces say they are aiming for terrorists, reports show there has been a significant amount of collateral damage. According to a Syrian anti-government activist group on Facebook, there have been at least 222 air raids, which have left 93 civilians dead and 239 structures destroyed.
According to a New York Times contact, a former Palmyra resident who has since fled to Turkey, many civilians are seeking to escape the city to avoid ISIS and government bombardment. Those who can't afford transportation are often forced to seek shelter in basements from air strikes.
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