The Islamic State (IS) group has demolished more treasured monuments in Syria’s ancient Palmyra, a month after recapturing it from government forces. Photo: AFPBeirut: Islamic State militants destroyed parts of the second-century Roman theater in Syria’s historic town of Palmyra and the site’s landmark ancient Tetrapylon, the government and opposition activists said Friday. IS extremists have destroyed ancient sites across their self-styled Islamic caliphate in Syria and Iraq, perceiving them as monuments to idolatry. The Palmyra Tetrapylon, characterized by its four plinths that are not connected overhead, had only one original ancient column, said Abdulkarim. On Thursday, reports emerged that the militant group killed 12 captives it held in Palmyra, some of them beheaded in the Roman theater.

Source: Mint January 20, 2017 15:14 UTC