IS blows up Arch of Triumph in Syria�s Palmyra

Islamic State group jihadists have blown up the Arch of Triumph in Syria’s Palmyra, the country’s antiquities chief said Monday, stepping up their campaign of destruction at the world heritage site, reports AFP from Beirut. The move was seen as the latest salvo in IS’s propaganda war, and came just days after Russia launched air strikes against the extremists and other opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The West has accused Moscow of mainly targeting moderate opponents of the regime while neighbouring Turkey has branded the Russian bombing campaign “unacceptable”.
Ankara said Monday that its F-16 jets had intercepted a Russian fighter plane that violated its air space near the Syrian border, forcing it to turn back.
The NATO member summoned the Russian ambassador and “strongly protested” the violation which took place on Saturday, its foreign ministry said.
Russia and Turkey have long been at odds over the crisis in Syria, with Moscow emerging as Assad’s key international backer and Ankara urging his ouster as the only solution to the conflict.
Russian warplanes have been flying over Syrian territory since Wednesday, conducting air strikes on what Moscow says are IS group targets in the country’s northern and central provinces.
The extremist group has seized large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq, committing atrocities including beheadings, rape and mass killings, and destroying archaeological and cultural heritage.
Syrian antiquities director Maamun Abdulkarim warned Monday of a catastrophe unfolding in Palmyra, which the jihadists have been dismantling since capturing it in May.
“This is a systematic destruction of the city. They want to raze it completely,” Abdulkarim told AFP.
“Every time IS was attacked, they acted like this.”
He said IS had booby-trapped the Arch of Triumph, situated at the entrance to the ancient city’s historic colonnaded street, several weeks ago and blown it up on Sunday.
The jihadist group had already destroyed several famed tower tombs, the 2,000-year old Temple of Bel, and the Lion of Athena.
Known as the “Pearl of the Desert”, the ancient oasis town of Palmyra situated about 210 kilometres (130 miles) northeast of Damascus became famous as a stopping point for caravans travelling on the Silk Road.

IS blows up Arch of Triumph in Syria�s Palmyra

Islamic State group jihadists have blown up the Arch of Triumph in Syrias Palmyra, the countrys antiquities chief said Monday, stepping up their campaign of destruction at the world heritage site, reports AFP from Beirut. The move was seen as the latest salvo in ISs propaganda war, and came just days after Russia launched air strikes against the extremists and other opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The West has accused Moscow of mainly targeting moderate opponents of the regime while neighbouring Turkey has branded the Russian bombing campaign unacceptable. Ankara said Monday that its F-16 jets had intercepted a Russian fighter plane that violated its air space near the Syrian border, forcing it to turn back. The NATO member summoned the Russian ambassador and strongly protested the violation which took place on Saturday, its foreign ministry said. Russia and Turkey have long been at odds over the crisis in Syria, with Moscow emerging as Assads key international backer and Ankara urging his ouster as the only solution to the conflict. Russian warplanes have been flying over Syrian territory since Wednesday, conducting air strikes on what Moscow says are IS group targets in the countrys northern and central provinces. The extremist group has seized large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq, committing atrocities including beheadings, rape and mass killings, and destroying archaeological and cultural heritage. Syrian antiquities director Maamun Abdulkarim warned Monday of a catastrophe unfolding in Palmyra, which the jihadists have been dismantling since capturing it in May. This is a systematic destruction of the city. They want to raze it completely, Abdulkarim told AFP. Every time IS was attacked, they acted like this. He said IS had booby-trapped the Arch of Triumph, situated at the entrance to the ancient citys historic colonnaded street, several weeks ago and blown it up on Sunday. The jihadist group had already destroyed several famed tower tombs, the 2,000-year old Temple of Bel, and the Lion of Athena. Known as the Pearl of the Desert, the ancient oasis town of Palmyra situated about 210 kilometres (130 miles) northeast of Damascus became famous as a stopping point for caravans travelling on the Silk Road.