As if the nearly six - year civil warfare in Syria could n’t get any worse , it appears that militants with the so - visit Islamic State have inflict further damage to the ancient Roman - earned run average land site of Palmyra .
The new drone footage , exhaust today by the Russian Ministry of Defense , show the primal segment of Palmyra ’s famous amphitheater now lying in ruination . The city ’s majestic Tetrapylon — an arranging of 16 column at the urban center ’s primary crossroads — also appears to have digest extensive damage . Russia is now warning that ISIS is project to visit more terms at theUNESCO Heritage Site . The newfangled television , take earlier this month , contrasts footage taken before and after the Islamic State ’s most late offense in the region .
In addition to hold strategic significance , Palmyra is home to some of the world ’s most cherished and important archaeological sites . The metropolis , once known as the “ Pearl of the Desert , ” dates back to the First and Second Century AD . It moderate monumental ruins of what was once an important deal hub , where goods , ideas and culture mingled between the Roman empire and the Far East .
Theancient Ithiel Town first fell to ISIS in May of 2015 . The militants hold Palmyra for nearly a year , drive out local occupier and measuredly destroy portions of the ruins , include many ancient temples . ISIS was eventuallydriven outby Syrian and Russian forces in March of 2016 , but it has since returned . News of new damagesurfaced in late December , alongwith satellite photosin January . The late Russian drone footage now shows the extent of the legal injury done ; ISIS militants come along to have inflicted serious damage to the facade of the Romanic - geological era amphitheatre , while only two of the Tetrapylon ’s original 16 columns remain standing .
ISIS has damage other archaeological sites in both Syria and Iraq , perceiving them as monuments to idolatry . The head of UNESCO , Irina Bokova , has characterize the former destruction as a “ war law-breaking . ”
The Russian defense ministry say Syrian government military personnel are now advancing towards the metropolis , and are about 12 miles ( 20 kilometer ) away . Last week , Russian military plane carry out more than 90 sorties to provide air cover song for the offensive . The ministry says it has seen significant hand truck cause in the area , leading to concerns that ISIS militant are bringing explosives to the website . The Russians have not offered any grounds to corroborate this title .
As significant as it is to get the password out about what ’s happening in Palmyra , Russia is capitalizing on the situation for propaganda role . In what was view as a dramatic publicity stunt , the Russian government flew in an orchestra to play a three - piece concert in the ancient amphitheatre just six calendar week after the city was recapture . According toaccounts , the sound of outgoing artillery could still be discover as the orchestra was jell up .
[ AP viaYahoo!,Washington Post ]
ArchaeologyDronesRussiaScience
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