Satellite imagery confirms ISIS destruction of Palmyra temple

Satellite images show the main temple in Syria’s Palmyra has been flattened, confirming the worst fears for the ancient ruins held by the Islamic State (ISIS) group. The destruction of the Temple of Bel has sparked international outrage with the United Nation’s (UN) cultural watchdog calling it an “intolerable crime against civilization.” Dozens of relics remain at risk in the ruins of Palmyra, which ISIS jihadists seized from regime forces in May as they pursued their campaign for territory in Syria and Iraq. The extremist group’s harsh philosophy condemns pre-Islamic religious sites and considers statues and grave markers to be idolatrous, but it has also been accused of destroying heritage to loot items for the black market and to gain publicity. The 2,000-year-old temple was the centerpiece of Palmyra’s famed ruins and one of the most important relics at the UNESCO-listed heritage site.

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