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| Palmyra's Temple of Bel destroyed, says UN | Palmyra's Temple of Bel destroyed, says UN |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A satellite image confirms that the main temple in the ancient city of Palmyra in northern Syria has been destroyed, the United Nations says. | A satellite image confirms that the main temple in the ancient city of Palmyra in northern Syria 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 the Islamic State (IS) group. | There had been earlier reports of an explosion at the Temple of Bel in Palmyra, which is held by militants from the Islamic State (IS) group. |
| 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. |
| A local man told the BBC that only the outer boundary wall and the gateway to the temple remained. | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The sale of looted antiquities is one of the group's main sources of funding. It has also been accused of destroying ancient sites to gain publicity. | |
| Murdered archaeologist | |
| Last week, it was confirmed that another site at Palmyra, the Temple of Baalshamin, had been blown up. | Last week, it was confirmed that another site at Palmyra, the Temple of Baalshamin, had been blown up. |
| Unosat released satellite images on Monday showing the extent of the damage to the Baalshamin temple, proving that parts were heavily damaged or completely destroyed. | Unosat released satellite images on Monday showing the extent of the damage to the Baalshamin temple, 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. |
| Earlier this month the group murdered 81-year-old Khaled al-Asaad, the archaeologist who had looked after the Palmyra ruins for 40 years. | Earlier this month the group murdered 81-year-old Khaled al-Asaad, the archaeologist who had looked after the Palmyra ruins for 40 years. |
| The world-famous Greco-Roman ruins of Palmyra are in the desert north-east of the Syrian capital, Damascus. | The world-famous Greco-Roman ruins of Palmyra 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 released a video in July showing some 20 captured government soldiers being shot dead at Palmyra's theatre. | IS released a video in July showing some 20 captured government soldiers being shot dead at Palmyra's theatre. |
| Syrian government forces have sought to drive IS out of the Palmyra area in recent months and there has been fierce fighting in nearby towns. | Syrian government forces have sought to drive IS out of the Palmyra area in recent months and there has been fierce fighting in nearby towns. |
| 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 |