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| Islamic State seizes Syria's ancient Palmyra | Islamic State seizes Syria's ancient Palmyra |
| (34 minutes 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. |
| Unesco says its destruction would be "an enormous loss to humanity", but no damage has been reported there yet. | Unesco says its destruction would be "an enormous loss to humanity", but no damage has been reported there yet. |
| IS now controls the nearby airport, prison and intelligence HQ, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says. | IS now controls the nearby airport, prison and intelligence HQ, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says. |
| The militants have previously demolished ancient sites in Iraq that pre-date Islam. | The militants have 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 the site 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 the site 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 Syrian 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 Syrian capital, Damascus, and the contested eastern city of Deir al-Zour. |
| 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. | 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. |
| How to preserve artefacts from wanton destruction? | |
| 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. | 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. | Dating back to the 1st and 2nd Century, when the region was under Roman rule, Palmyra is dominated by a grand, colonnaded street. |
| Tadmur, the modern settlement next to Palmyra, would normally have a population of around 70,000, but it has recently been swollen by an influx of people displaced from other combat areas. | Tadmur, the modern settlement next to Palmyra, would normally have a population of around 70,000, but it has recently been swollen by an influx of people displaced from other combat areas. |
| Syrian state media said pro-government forces had pulled out after "assuring the evacuation" of "most" of its inhabitants. | Syrian state media said pro-government forces had pulled out after "assuring the evacuation" of "most" of its inhabitants. |
| Talal Barazi, the Governor of Homs Province, which includes Palmyra, told the Associated Press that 1,300 people had fled the city over the past few days, and more were trying to leave. | Talal Barazi, the Governor of Homs Province, which includes Palmyra, told the Associated Press that 1,300 people had fled the city over the past few days, and more were trying to leave. |
| An activist in Palmyra told the BBC that residents were being warned via mosque loudspeakers not to hide Syrian government soldiers in their homes. | An activist in Palmyra told the BBC that residents were being warned via mosque loudspeakers not to hide Syrian government soldiers in their homes. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Analysis: Jim Muir, BBC News, Beirut | Analysis: Jim Muir, BBC News, Beirut |
| Many questions will now be asked in Damascus and Baghdad - and above all in Washington - about how the militants have managed to score major advances in both Iraq and Syria this week despite all the efforts to stop them. | Many questions will now be asked in Damascus and Baghdad - and above all in Washington - about how the militants have managed to score major advances in both Iraq and Syria this week despite all the efforts to stop them. |
| IS was supposed to be on the defensive in Iraq, where the prime minister announced weeks ago the launching of a campaign to drive the militants out of Anbar province. Now he's lost its capital, Ramadi, just days before they took Palmyra in Syria. | IS was supposed to be on the defensive in Iraq, where the prime minister announced weeks ago the launching of a campaign to drive the militants out of Anbar province. Now he's lost its capital, Ramadi, just days before they took Palmyra in Syria. |
| The western coalition's bombing campaign has clearly hurt IS where it could. But it could never compensate for ground forces which are not competent, equipped or motivated enough to stand firm and hit back. | The western coalition's bombing campaign has clearly hurt IS where it could. But it could never compensate for ground forces which are not competent, equipped or motivated enough to stand firm and hit back. |
| Only the Kurds in the north of both countries (most recently in north-eastern Syria) have proven able to do that. | Only the Kurds in the north of both countries (most recently in north-eastern Syria) have proven able to do that. |
| IS threat to 'Venice of the Sands' | IS threat to 'Venice of the Sands' |
| Your memories of Palmyra | Your memories of Palmyra |
| Unesco's director-general, Irina Bokova, said any destruction to Palmyra would be "not just a war crime but... an enormous loss to humanity". | Unesco's director-general, Irina Bokova, said any destruction to Palmyra would be "not just a war crime but... an enormous loss to humanity". |
| "It's the birthplace of human civilisation. It belongs to the whole of humanity and I think everyone today should be worried about what is happening," she said in a video statement. | "It's the birthplace of human civilisation. It belongs to the whole of humanity and I think everyone today should be worried about what is happening," she said in a video statement. |
| Ms Bokova told the BBC that protecting sites like Palmyra had become a security imperative, as well as a cultural concern, because, she claimed, the militias were using trafficked artefacts to get funds: | Ms Bokova told the BBC that protecting sites like Palmyra had become a security imperative, as well as a cultural concern, because, she claimed, the militias were using trafficked artefacts to get funds: |
| "These are not some lovers of art," she said. | "These are not some lovers of art," she said. |
| "This is part of the financing of extremism and it is absolutely imperative that we stop these channels of illicit trafficking, of looting." | "This is part of the financing of extremism and it is absolutely imperative that we stop these channels of illicit trafficking, of looting." |
| 'World's battle' | 'World's battle' |
| Syria's head of antiquities, Maamoun Abdul Karim, said on Wednesday that hundreds of Palmyra's statues had 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 had 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. |
| 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 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. |
| "Some objects are still there, it's not 100% empty," he told the BBC. | "Some objects are still there, it's not 100% empty," he told the BBC. |
| But "considerable damage" had already been done by Syrian air force bombing and soldiers digging trenches at the site, he continued. | But "considerable damage" had already been done by Syrian air force bombing and soldiers digging trenches at the site, he continued. |
| 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. |
| If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. You can also tweet your stories to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100. | If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. You can also tweet your stories to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100. |
| Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971 | Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971 |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk,r text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international) or via our WhatsApp number +44 (0)7525 900971 . | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk,r text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international) or via our WhatsApp number +44 (0)7525 900971 . |
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