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Islamic State seizes Syria's ancient Palmyra Islamic State seizes Syria's ancient Palmyra
(about 1 hour later)
Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria have entered the Unesco World Heritage site of Palmyra after seizing the town next to the ancient ruins, reports say.Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria have entered the Unesco World Heritage site of Palmyra after seizing the town next to the ancient ruins, reports say.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there were no reports yet of any destruction of artefacts.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there were no reports yet of any destruction of artefacts.
The militants had taken control of the nearby airport, prison and intelligence HQ after government forces pulled out of the area, the monitoring group said.The militants had taken control of the nearby airport, prison and intelligence HQ after government forces pulled out of the area, the monitoring group said.
IS has previously demolished ancient sites in Iraq that pre-date Islam.IS has previously demolished ancient sites in Iraq that pre-date Islam.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says acute international concern over Palmyra might actually spur the jihadists on to make destroying it a priority, since they delight in challenging and horrifying world opinion.The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says acute international concern over Palmyra might actually spur the jihadists on to make destroying it a priority, since they delight in challenging and horrifying world opinion.
The ancient ruins are situated in a strategically important area on the road between the capital, Damascus, and the contested eastern city of Deir al-Zour.The ancient ruins are situated in a strategically important area on the road between the capital, Damascus, and the contested eastern city of Deir al-Zour.
Palmyra is also close to oil and gas fields which the Syrian government use to generate electricity for areas under its control in the west of the country. Palmyra is also close to oil and gas fields which the Syrian government uses to generate electricity for areas under its control in the west of the country.
Rising out of the desert, the site contains the monumental ruins of a great city, which Unesco and others consider one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world.
Dating back to the 1st and 2nd Century, when the region was under Roman rule, Palmyra is dominated by a grand, colonnaded street.
'World's battle''World's battle'
Syrian state media said pro-government forces had been pulled out of Tadmur, the modern settlement next to Palmyra after "assuring the evacuation" of most of its inhabitants. Syrian state media said pro-government forces had been pulled out of Tadmur, the modern settlement next to Palmyra, after "assuring the evacuation" of most of its inhabitants.
The town's population would normally number around 70,000, but it has recently been swollen by an influx of people displaced from other combat areas.The town's population would normally number around 70,000, but it has recently been swollen by an influx of people displaced from other combat areas.
Our correspondent says there was effectively nothing to stop the militants entering the ruins following the collapse of the government forces. Our correspondent says there was in effect nothing to stop the militants entering the ruins following the collapse of government forces.
If there were Islamist militants in the captured prison, he adds, they may now have been recruited by IS.If there were Islamist militants in the captured prison, he adds, they may now have been recruited by IS.
The Syrian Observatory reported that more than 100 pro-government troops were killed in overnight clashes around Palmyra.The Syrian Observatory reported that more than 100 pro-government troops were killed in overnight clashes around Palmyra.
A researcher from the monitoring group also told the BBC on Friday that IS now controls more than half of Syrian territory.
However, the BBC's Arab Affairs Editor Sebastian Usher says this figure may give a false impression because there are large areas to the east under IS control that are not very significant strategically.
Palmyra: the 'Venice of the Sands' - Professor Kevin ButcherPalmyra: the 'Venice of the Sands' - Professor Kevin Butcher
For such a remote city, Palmyra occupies a prominent place in Middle Eastern history. From modest beginnings in the 1st Century BC, the city gradually rose to prominence under the aegis of Rome until, during the 3rd Century AD, the city's rulers challenged Roman power and created an empire of their own that stretched from Turkey to Egypt.For such a remote city, Palmyra occupies a prominent place in Middle Eastern history. From modest beginnings in the 1st Century BC, the city gradually rose to prominence under the aegis of Rome until, during the 3rd Century AD, the city's rulers challenged Roman power and created an empire of their own that stretched from Turkey to Egypt.
Palmyra was a great Middle Eastern achievement, and was unlike any other city of the Roman Empire. Like Venice, the city formed the hub of a vast trade network, only with the desert as its sea and camels as its ships.Palmyra was a great Middle Eastern achievement, and was unlike any other city of the Roman Empire. Like Venice, the city formed the hub of a vast trade network, only with the desert as its sea and camels as its ships.
Only small parts of the site have been excavated. Most of the archaeology lies just beneath the surface rather than deeply buried, and it is particularly vulnerable to looting.Only small parts of the site have been excavated. Most of the archaeology lies just beneath the surface rather than deeply buried, and it is particularly vulnerable to looting.
If the city is destroyed by IS, a major chapter in Middle Eastern history and culture will be yet another casualty of this tragic conflict.If the city is destroyed by IS, a major chapter in Middle Eastern history and culture will be yet another casualty of this tragic conflict.
Read the full article: IS threat to 'Venice of the Sands'Read the full article: IS threat to 'Venice of the Sands'
Syria's head of antiquities, Maamoun Abdul Karim, said on Wednesday that hundreds of Palmyra's statues have been moved to safety but that large monuments could not be transferred.Syria's head of antiquities, Maamoun Abdul Karim, said on Wednesday that hundreds of Palmyra's statues have been moved to safety but that large monuments could not be transferred.
"This is the entire world's battle," Mr Abdul Karim warned."This is the entire world's battle," Mr Abdul Karim warned.
He called on the US-led military coalition against IS to prevent the group destroying the ancient site. However, it says it does not co-ordinate its actions with the Syrian government. He called on the US-led military coalition against IS to prevent the group destroying the ancient site. However, the coalition says it does not co-ordinate its actions with the Syrian government.
Rising out of the desert, Palmyra contains the monumental ruins of a great city that was one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world, according to Unesco, the UN's cultural agency. The founder of the Association for the Protection of Syrian Archaeology, Cheikmous Ali, said the operation to move the objects began two months ago, but it picked up speed earlier this week.
The site, most of which dates back to the 1st and 2nd Century when the region was under Roman rule, is dominated by a grand, colonnaded street. "Some objects are still there, it's not 100% empty," he told the BBC.
But "considerable damage" had already been done by the Syrian air force bombing and soldiers digging trenches at the site, he continued.
Unesco's director-general, Irina Bokova, said she was "deeply concerned" by the situation.Unesco's director-general, Irina Bokova, said she was "deeply concerned" by the situation.
"The fighting is putting at risk one of the most significant sites in the Middle East, and its civilian population," she said in a statement."The fighting is putting at risk one of the most significant sites in the Middle East, and its civilian population," she said in a statement.
Are you in Palmyra? Do you have friends and family there? We're also looking for your photographs of the Syrian city should you have ever visited it. You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences or yourpics@bbc.co.uk with your images.Are you in Palmyra? Do you have friends and family there? We're also looking for your photographs of the Syrian city should you have ever visited it. You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences or yourpics@bbc.co.uk with your images.
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