IS releases photos that show Palmyra temple destruction
The Islamic State group on Tuesday published images showing the destruction of the Baal Shamin temple in Syria’s Palmyra, after an international condemnation of the act.
The series of images showed militants placing barrels and small containers, presumably containing explosives, into the temple, as well as similar containers placed on parts of its columns.
The images, which appeared to be screenshots from a video, also showed a large explosion apparently as the temple was blown up, and then a pile of rubble at its former location.
The temple was reportedly destroyed on Sunday and news of its demolition sparked international condemnation.
The head of the UN’s cultural watchdog, Irina Bokova, called the act a ‘new war crime and an immense loss for the Syrian people and for humanity’.
Palmyra ancient ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage site and IS’ capture of the town on May 21 raised concerns the group would lay waste to it as it has done with heritage sites under its control elsewhere.
IRAQ PM FORESEES
Winning the battle for control of an oil refinery town north of Baghdad is a key step toward defeating the Islamic State group, Iraq’s prime minister Haider al-Abadi said on Tuesday, hours before a suicide attack killed 13 soldiers and allied militiamen in the western Anbar province.
“Victory at Beiji is a crucial step toward ending Daesh’s presence in Iraq,” al-Abadi told military and militia commanders during a visit to the area the day before, using an Arabic acronym for the IS group.
Al-Abadi said the extremist group, which controls large swaths of territory in western and northern Iraq, is throwing significant resources into battles.