Ancient Roman ruins of Palmyra destroyed by ‘Islamic State’

Militants from the co-called ‘Islamic State’ group have destroyed a temple at Syria’s ancient ruins of Palmyra, according to activists.

News that the militants blew up the Baalshamin Temple came after extremists beheaded Palmyra scholar Khaled al-Asaad.

IS militamts destroy ancient temple at Palmyra
Palmyra, one of the Middle East’s most spectacular archaeological sites and a Unesco World Heritage site, sits near the modern Syrian city of the same name.

Activists said the militants used explosives to blow up the Baalshamin Temple on its grounds and the blast was so powerful it also damaged some of the Roman columns around it.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the temple was blown up a month ago. Turkey-based activist Osama al-Khatib, who is originally from Palmyra, said the temple was blown up on Sunday.

Both said the extremists used a large amount of explosives to destroy it.