Islamic State militants blow up temple in ancient city of Palmyra

The Islamic State (IS) militants blew up an ancient temple in Syria’s millennia-old oasis city of Palmyra, a monitor group reported Sunday.

“The cella (inner area of the temple) was destroyed and the columns around collapsed”, he said.

In July, they destroyed the famous statue Lion of Athena, which was at the entrance to the Palmyra Museum, and transformed the museum into a court and prison.

The UK-based watchdog group cited information and narratives by people who escaped Palmyra as stating that the detonation of the temple happened a month ago.

The head of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, said Friday that Islamic State extremists in Syria and Iraq are engaged in the “most brutal, systematic” destruction of ancient sites since World War II – a stark warning that came hours after militants demolished the St. Elian Monastery, which housed a fifth-century tomb and served as a major pilgrimage site.

Baal Shamin was constructed in 17 AD and it was expanded beneath the reign of Roman emperor Hadrian in one hundred thirty AD.

IS militants captured the ancient city in May.

The temple dates back to the first century.

IS had mined the traditional website in June earlier than destroying the Lion Statue of Athena – a singular piece made from limestone that stood greater than three metres excessive (10 ft) outdoors a museum.

ISIS militants have allegedly destroyed an ancient Syrian temple, the latest instance of the group’s destruction of cultural and historic sites.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

In February, it released a video showing militants using sledgehammers to smash statues in the country’s second city Mosul, and the group’s fighters have also burned thousands of rare books and manuscripts, and destroyed several other landmarks.

They said Sunday’s attack took place in the rural district of Jaramshah north of Anbar’s provincial capital, Ramadi.