Extract from The Guardian
Forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad collapse under seven-day siege of historic city
The historic city of Palmyra appears to have fallen almost entirely under the control of Islamic State, after forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad
collapsed under a seven-day siege that has now left the magnificent
ruins there exposed to near-certain destruction by the terror group.
Activists from the city and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said most of Palmyra fell on Wednesday shortly after the Assad regime evacuated most of the civilians in it and began withdrawing towards regime strongholds in the west.
The ancient city, once a Silk Road hub that occupies special mythological status in Syria, is home to some of the most beautiful and well-preserved ruins of antiquity, including the Temple of Bel, built in the first century.
Isis considers the preservation of such historical ruins a form of idolatry, and has destroyed temples and historic artefacts as well as ancient Assyrian sites in Nineveh in Iraq, after conquering the province in a lightning offensive last year.
The group has profited from looting historic treasures, in addition to scoring propaganda victories by the wanton destruction of archaeological sites, and Palmyra is likely to face a similar fate now.
The loss of the city and its surrounding gas fields, which supply electricity to much of the Assad regime’s strongholds in western Syria, is another strategic defeat that could expose Homs and Damascus to the terror group’s advances.
Isis also appeared to have taken control of major facilities in and around the city, including the legendary military prison of Tadmur, the modern name for Palmyra, a symbol of state repression for decades.
Activists said the regime has begun launching retaliatory air strikes on the city, and much of it has fallen into darkness with widespread electricity outages.
Activists from the city and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said most of Palmyra fell on Wednesday shortly after the Assad regime evacuated most of the civilians in it and began withdrawing towards regime strongholds in the west.
The ancient city, once a Silk Road hub that occupies special mythological status in Syria, is home to some of the most beautiful and well-preserved ruins of antiquity, including the Temple of Bel, built in the first century.
Isis considers the preservation of such historical ruins a form of idolatry, and has destroyed temples and historic artefacts as well as ancient Assyrian sites in Nineveh in Iraq, after conquering the province in a lightning offensive last year.
The group has profited from looting historic treasures, in addition to scoring propaganda victories by the wanton destruction of archaeological sites, and Palmyra is likely to face a similar fate now.
The loss of the city and its surrounding gas fields, which supply electricity to much of the Assad regime’s strongholds in western Syria, is another strategic defeat that could expose Homs and Damascus to the terror group’s advances.
Isis also appeared to have taken control of major facilities in and around the city, including the legendary military prison of Tadmur, the modern name for Palmyra, a symbol of state repression for decades.
Activists said the regime has begun launching retaliatory air strikes on the city, and much of it has fallen into darkness with widespread electricity outages.
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