Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Homs, SANA – Local sources in Tadmur (Palmyra) city in the eastern countryside of Homs told SANA on Friday that ISIS terrorist organizations has destroyed the façade of the Roman Theatre and the Tetrapylon in the archeological site of Palmyra.
Speaking from inside the city of Palmyra, the sources told SANA reporter that ISIS terrorists planted explosives at the façade of the Theatre and the “Tetrapylon”, a very famous monument constituting of 16 columns, in the main street in the ancient city, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The terrorists detonated the explosives and demolished the two monuments.
Two days ago, ISIS committed a massacre in Palmyra city in which it killed at least 12 people, including 4 employees and two teachers, who were earlier kidnapped.
The terrorist group recaptured Palmyra in December for a second time after it was liberated by the Syrian Arab Army, backed by Russia, in March. The ancient city fell in the hands of ISIS for the first time in 2015.
ISIS earlier destroyed the tomb towers that date back to various eras extending between 44 and 103 DC.
The terrorist organizations also demolished the Temple of Bell and the Temple of Baalshamin inside the ancient city and destroyed the Lion of al-L?t statue and eight other statues.
UNESCO: Destruction of Tetrapylon and façade of the Roman Theatre in Palmyra War crime
UNESCO has condemned as a “war crime” the destruction of the Tetrapylon and the façade of the Roman Theatre in Palmyra city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in the eastern countryside of Homs by ISIS terrorist organization.
“This destruction is a new war crime and an immense loss for the Syrian people and for humanity,” UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova said Friday.
“This new blow against cultural heritage shows that cultural cleansing led by violent extremists is seeking to destroy both human lives and historical monuments in order to deprive the Syrian people of its past and its future. This is why the protection of heritage is inseparable from the protection of human lives, and we must all unite to put this at the center of all efforts to build peace,” Bokova added.
H.Said/Ghossoun
