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| Palmyra's Temple of Bel 'destroyed' | Palmyra's Temple of Bel 'destroyed' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A satellite image confirms that a temple in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra has been destroyed, the United Nations says. | A satellite image confirms that a temple in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra has been destroyed, the United Nations says. |
| There had been earlier reports of an explosion at the Temple of Bel in Palmyra, which is held by militants from Islamic State (IS). | There had been earlier reports of an explosion at the Temple of Bel in Palmyra, which is held by militants from Islamic State (IS). |
| Syria's antiquities chief had earlier said the basic structure of the 2,000-year-old site was intact. | Syria's antiquities chief had earlier said the basic structure of the 2,000-year-old site was intact. |
| But UN satellite analysts Unosat say the image shows almost nothing remains. | But UN satellite analysts Unosat say the image shows almost nothing remains. |
| "Unfortunately, the images we acquired do show that the main building of the temple has been destroyed," Einar Bjorgo, Unosat's manager, told the BBC early on Tuesday. | "Unfortunately, the images we acquired do show that the main building of the temple has been destroyed," Einar Bjorgo, Unosat's manager, told the BBC early on Tuesday. |
| He added that a set of columns nearby had also been destroyed. | He added that a set of columns nearby had also been destroyed. |
| On Monday, Maamoun Abdulkarim, the head of the Syrian Department of Antiquities and Museums, had said the Temple of Bel suffered a large explosion, but that he believed most of the site had remained intact. | On Monday, Maamoun Abdulkarim, the head of the Syrian Department of Antiquities and Museums, had said the Temple of Bel suffered a large explosion, but that he believed most of the site had remained intact. |
| Witnesses had struggled, however, to get close to the site to confirm the extent of the damage. | Witnesses had struggled, however, to get close to the site to confirm the extent of the damage. |
| Last week, it was confirmed that another site at Palmyra, the Baalshamin temple, had been blown up. | Last week, it was confirmed that another site at Palmyra, the Baalshamin temple, had been blown up. |
| Unosat released satellite images on Monday showing the extent of the damage to Baalshamin, proving that parts were heavily damaged or completely destroyed. | |
| IS militants seized control of Palmyra in May, sparking fears for the World Heritage site. | IS militants seized control of Palmyra in May, sparking fears for the World Heritage site. |
| The world-famous Greco-Roman ruins are in the desert north-east of the Syrian capital, Damascus. | The world-famous Greco-Roman ruins are in the desert north-east of the Syrian capital, Damascus. |
| The Temple of Bel is dedicated to the Palmyrene gods and was one of the best-preserved parts of the ancient city. | The Temple of Bel is dedicated to the Palmyrene gods and was one of the best-preserved parts of the ancient city. |
| IS has previously targeted historical sites in areas under its control in Iraq and Syria, regarding their ancient temples and sculptures as heretical. | IS has previously targeted historical sites in areas under its control in Iraq and Syria, regarding their ancient temples and sculptures as heretical. |
| Ancient city of Palmyra | Ancient city of Palmyra |
| IS threat to 'Venice of the Sands' | IS threat to 'Venice of the Sands' |
| Syrian ruins that influenced the West | Syrian ruins that influenced the West |
| Palmyra 'was archaeologist's passion' | Palmyra 'was archaeologist's passion' |
| Your memories of Palmyra | Your memories of Palmyra |