Tadmur

The most famed temple in Syria's Palmyra has been blown up, the United Nations said on Aug. 31, showing satellite images of the damage as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) presses a campaign to tear down the treasured heritage site.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) jihadist group has blown up parts of the Temple of Bel in Syria's ancient city of Palmyra, a monitor and activists said.

Islamic State militants have destroyed Palmyra’s ancient Temple of Baalshamin, Syrian officials and activists charged on Monday, days after beheading the chief archaeologist of the site.

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants on Aug. 23 blew up the ancient temple of Baal Shamin in the UNESCO-listed Syrian city of Palmyra, an official said, the latest in a series of cultural relics to be destroyed by the jihadist group.

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants beheaded an antiquities scholar in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra and hung his body on a column in a main square of the historic site, Syria's antiquities chief said on Aug. 18.

Child executioners are shown in a new chilling execution video from the historic city of Palmyra in the Syrian desert. The young executioners-in-training in the video brutally killing a group of more than 25 regime soldiers who are lined up on their knees on the stage of the Roman amphitheater.

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters have destroyed two ancient Muslim mausoleums in the historic Syrian city of Palmyra, the country's antiquities director said June 23.

Syria's army advanced this weekend west of the ancient city of Palmyra, reopening a key supply route for oil and gas to the capital, a newspaper and monitoring group said June 22.  

"The infantry has made tangible progress in the area of west Biyarat," said the Al-Watan daily, which is close to the government.    

Islamic State of Iraq and the Leavnt (ISIL) militants have laid landmines and explosives at the site of the ancient ruins in Syria?s Palmyra, a monitor said June 21, adding the purpose of the move was unclear.

The head of Syria?s antiquities department, reached by phone in Damascus, said he had also received reports from Palmyra residents that mines were laid at the site.

By Nikos Konstandaras