Palmyra, Syria – A video released by a media arm of the Islamic State group purportedly shows the archaeological ruins of Palmyra apparently undamaged.
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The video was released Tuesday by the pro-Islamic State Aamaq News Agency. It was the first release since the extremist group captured Palmyra earlier this month.
The footage, mostly filmed without sound and people, showed the Palmyria’s ancient citadel, columns, colosseum, buildings and walls. One shot showed black smoke rising behind ancient ruins but it did not appear that any of the historical sites had been obviously damaged by the week of fighting.
Syria’s antiquities chief said on Tuesday the historic city of Palmyra had been unharmed since ultra-radical Islamic State insurgents seized it from state control last week.
Maamoun Abdulkarim said he was still afraid the jihadist group would blow up Palmyra’s 2,000-year-old Roman ruins at Palmyra including tombs and the Temple of Bel, which could be viewed as idolatrous in its puritanical vision of Islam.
Still, Abdulkarim told Reuters by phone, “the historic city is fine. There is no damage so far”. He cited contacts with people on the ground in the central Syrian city. Palmyra, also known as Tadmur, is home to a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Islamic State group also seized Ramadi around the same time, showing that it’s able to advance in both Syria and Iraq despite months of U.S.-led airstrikes.
The video purports to show the majestic Roman-era collonades and amphitheater apparently undamaged. It also shows black smoke billowing from behind the ruins.
who cares about this avodah zora temple?
Yes we have boors also.Who can’t understand the importance of historical sites because they have no secular education.