This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34016809
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Islamic State in Syria demolishes ancient Mar Elian monastery | Islamic State in Syria demolishes ancient Mar Elian monastery |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Islamic State (IS) militants have demolished the ancient Christian monastery of Mar Elian in the central Syrian town of al-Qaryatain. | Islamic State (IS) militants have demolished the ancient Christian monastery of Mar Elian in the central Syrian town of al-Qaryatain. |
The militants have also moved Christians taken captive in the town to their stronghold of Raqqa, according to a UK-based monitoring group. | |
IS captured al-Qaryatain from government forces some two weeks ago. | IS captured al-Qaryatain from government forces some two weeks ago. |
Photos showed the group bulldozing parts of the monastery, which was founded more than 1,500 years ago. | |
IS also transferred more than 100 captives to Raqqa, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). | |
But the group says the fate of 230 people kidnapped after al-Qaryatain's capture remains unclear, including Jacques Mourad, a prominent local priest who had been working at the Mar Elian monastery. | |
IS attacks on historical sites and artefacts | |
January: The group ransacks the central library in the Iraqi city of Mosul, burning thousands of books. | |
February: A video emerges showing the destruction of ancient artefacts at the central museum in Mosul. | |
March: IS uses explosives and bulldozers on Nimrud, one of Iraq's greatest archaeological treasures. Shortly after they destroy ruins at Hatra. | |
May: The group overruns the historic Syrian city of Palmyra. They have destroyed statues there and this week were reported to have beheaded an expert at the site. | |
IS regards Christians as infidels. The threat of violence and persecution from the militants has forced many Christian communities from their homes in Syria and northern Iraq. | IS regards Christians as infidels. The threat of violence and persecution from the militants has forced many Christian communities from their homes in Syria and northern Iraq. |
Al-Qaryatain was captured in the militants' first major offensive since May, when they seized the historic town of Palmyra, famed for its Roman-style ruins. | Al-Qaryatain was captured in the militants' first major offensive since May, when they seized the historic town of Palmyra, famed for its Roman-style ruins. |
More than 230,000 Syrians have died in the civil war, which began after anti-government protests in March 2011. | More than 230,000 Syrians have died in the civil war, which began after anti-government protests in March 2011. |
Rebel groups that originally fought against the government of President Bashar al-Assad have also been battling each other in an increasingly complex and bloody conflict. | Rebel groups that originally fought against the government of President Bashar al-Assad have also been battling each other in an increasingly complex and bloody conflict. |
Golan strikes | |
In a separate development, at least five people have died in an Israeli strike on a Syrian-held section of the Golan Heights. | |
Israel has carried out a series of raid in the area, which lies in south-western Syria, after rockets fired from Syria struck its territory on Thursday. The rockets set fire to scrubland but did not cause any casualties. | |
Israel's military has accused Palestinian militants from the Islamic Jihad group of firing the rockets, who Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran had given "sponsorship and instruction" to. | |
While the Israelis said five or six militants were killed, a Syrian army source, quoted on Syrian state TV, said the strike killed five civilians. | |
One Syrian soldier was earlier reported killed in an Israeli strike on military positions in the Syrian-held section of the Golan Heights. | One Syrian soldier was earlier reported killed in an Israeli strike on military positions in the Syrian-held section of the Golan Heights. |
Israel seized most of the Golan Heights from Syria in the closing stages of the 1967 Six-Day War. | Israel seized most of the Golan Heights from Syria in the closing stages of the 1967 Six-Day War. |