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Islamic State’s destruction of Palmyra temple confirmed by satellite photo
Satellite images have confirmed the destruction of a Roman-era temple in the Syrian city of Palmyra, a United Nations agency said, after the hardline Islamic State group claimed responsibility for blowing up the structure a week ago.
Islamic State detonated explosives in the ancient Baal Shamin temple on August 25, an act that cultural agency UNESCO has called a war crime aimed at wiping out a symbol of Syria’s diverse cultural heritage.
The temple of Bel stood just outside the main area of the ancient city, whose column-lined principal street leads to its gate.
Its richly decorated central shrine area, or cella, was extremely well preserved.
An analysis of an image taken in June and others taken several days ago show the obliteration of the temple in the central desert city, the Geneva-based United Nations Institute for Training and Research said in a statement.
“We confirm the destruction of the main building, while surrounding columns seem to be less affected.”
Islamic State captured Palmyra, an oasis town and former trading centre in Syria’s central desert, from government forces in May.
Photographs published by IS last week showed a pile of rubble on the site of that temple.
Its destruction was condemned by UNESCO, which lists Palmyra as a World Heritage Site, as a war crime.
The head of the UN cultural agency, Irina Bokova said Palmyra’s art and architecture was “a symbol of the complexity and wealth of the Syrian identity and history.”
Two weeks ago Islamic State beheaded Khaled al-Asaad, who was the city’s chief archaeologist for decades, and hung his body from a lamp post.
Islamic State, which controls most of eastern Syria and the central desert, has previously destroyed ancient monuments as well as Christian and Muslim holy sites in neighbouring Iraq.
DPA, Reuters
The Sidney Morning Herald world
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