Ancient Syrian temple completely destroyed by IS

August 25, 2015 02:59

An ancient temple in the Syrian town of Palmyra was reduced to rubble by Islamic State militants, a witness said today, confirming the complete destruction of the ancient monument in what UNESCO said was a "war crime."

The UN cultural agency called the destruction of the temple, part of a sprawling Roman-era complex that was once among the most popular tourist sites in the Middle East, an "immense loss for the Syrian people and for humanity."

Kishore Rao, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, said the ancient oasis city of Palmyra sat at a crossroads between the Roman empire, Persia, China and India, and that its soaring architecture was a "masterpiece of human creative genius."

"The destruction of any part of it is equally deplorable," Rao told The Associated Press.

Activists outside Palmyra reported the demolition of the Temple of Baalshamin late yesterday, but there were conflicting accounts of the timing and the extent of the destruction.

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