IS destroys Palmyra's Baalshamin temple

Islamic State (IS) militants destroyed Palmyra's 2,000-year-old Baalshamin temple on Sunday, triggering concern for the fate of one of the world's richest archaeological sites.

Until now the extremist group had largely refrained from destroying antiquities in the areas under its control, engaging instead in smuggling in a bid to bolster its finances.

Syrian officials and activists confirmed late on Sunday that the militants had used explosives to blow up the temple, with the powerful blast possibly also damaging the Roman columns nearby.

Nonetheless, the timing of the blast was uncertain, as the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it had in fact taken place in late July or early August.

The reports came less than a week after the Islamist group beheaded Dr. Khaled al- As’ad, Former Director General of Palmyra Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, in the public square in Palmyra in front of dozens of people.

However, a report in The Economist dated 22 August indicated smuggling of stolen artefacts to Turkey had increased sharply as IS looks to fill the gap in its finances as the oil fields under its controls come under increased air attacks.

Al- As’ad had been detained by IS for approximately one month before his execution. It was considered likely that he had been interrogated for the location of still unearthed archaeological sites.

Read more: IS beheads chief archaeologist at Syrian Palmyra

I am seeing Palmyra being destroyed in front of my eyes

“I am seeing Palmyra being destroyed in front of my eyes,” Dr. Maamoun Abdul-Karim, the head of Syria’s Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, told Reuters.

“God help us in the days to come.”

Irina Bokova, the head of UNESCO, on Friday said that IS extremists in Syria and Iraq were engaged in the "most brutal, systematic" destruction of ancient sites since World War II.

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