Islamic State Blows Up Arch of Triumph, a Roman-Era 'Jewel' of Palmyra
- October 04, 2015 21:35
Islamic militants have blown up the Arch of Triumph, one of the jewels in the architectural crown of Roman-era buildings in Palmyra. Syrian antiquities officials confirmed the destruction on Sunday.
The arch follows ISIS-led attacks on 2,000-year-old temples and other devastation in the Syrian city held by militants since May.
"It is now wanton destruction ... their acts of vengeance are no longer ideologically driven because they are now blowing up buildings with no religious meaning," Syria's antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim told Reuters.
Sunni Muslim militants blew up the temple of Baal Shamin and one of the best-preserved sites, Temple of Bel, in August.
Cultural agency UNESCO has called the destrcution "war crimes" as Islamic State continues to eradicate evidence of Syria's cultural diversity and history.
