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| Isis seizes Palmyra: Fears for ancient Unesco World Heritage Site as militants take full control of Syrian city | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Isis has seized almost full control of the ancient Syrian town of Palmyra after government defence lines collapsed, although it is unclear how close to the famed archaeological site the extremists have advanced. | |
| Syrian state television acknowledged that pro-government forces had withdrawn from the town. Its fall represents a stunning defeat for President Bashar Assad’s forces, just a few days after Isis militants launched their offensive. | Syrian state television acknowledged that pro-government forces had withdrawn from the town. Its fall represents a stunning defeat for President Bashar Assad’s forces, just a few days after Isis militants launched their offensive. |
| It is an enormous loss to the government, not only because of its cultural significance, but because it would open the way for Isis to advance to key government-held areas, including Damascus and Homs. | It is an enormous loss to the government, not only because of its cultural significance, but because it would open the way for Isis to advance to key government-held areas, including Damascus and Homs. |
| The ruins at Palmyra, a Unesco world heritage site just to the south-west of the town, are one of the region’s most renowned historic sites and there are fears the extremists will destroy them as they have done after taking major archaeological sites in Iraq. | The ruins at Palmyra, a Unesco world heritage site just to the south-west of the town, are one of the region’s most renowned historic sites and there are fears the extremists will destroy them as they have done after taking major archaeological sites in Iraq. |
| Palmyra is famous for its 2,000-year-old towering Roman-era colonnades and before the war, thousands of tourists a year visited the remote desert outpost, also known as the “Bride of the Desert”. | Palmyra is famous for its 2,000-year-old towering Roman-era colonnades and before the war, thousands of tourists a year visited the remote desert outpost, also known as the “Bride of the Desert”. |
| “I am terrified,” said Maamoun Abdulkarim, Syria’s director-general of antiquities and museums. “This is a PR battle for Daesh [Isis] and they will insist on scoring a victory against civilisation by destroying” the ancient ruins . | “I am terrified,” said Maamoun Abdulkarim, Syria’s director-general of antiquities and museums. “This is a PR battle for Daesh [Isis] and they will insist on scoring a victory against civilisation by destroying” the ancient ruins . |
| “The fear is for the museum and the large monuments that cannot be moved. This is the entire world’s battle,” Mr Adbulkarim added. | “The fear is for the museum and the large monuments that cannot be moved. This is the entire world’s battle,” Mr Adbulkarim added. |
| Residents of Ramadi who fled their homes wait to cross Bzeibez bridge, on the southwestern frontier of Baghdad (Getty) Homs governor Talal Barazzi told The Associated Press earlier that Isis militants had infiltrated overnight into the northern part of Palmyra. | Residents of Ramadi who fled their homes wait to cross Bzeibez bridge, on the southwestern frontier of Baghdad (Getty) Homs governor Talal Barazzi told The Associated Press earlier that Isis militants had infiltrated overnight into the northern part of Palmyra. |
| Following setbacks in both Syria and Iraq, Isis fighters appear to have gained a second wind in recent days, capturing Ramadi, the capital of Iraq’s largest Sunni province. | Following setbacks in both Syria and Iraq, Isis fighters appear to have gained a second wind in recent days, capturing Ramadi, the capital of Iraq’s largest Sunni province. |
| Iraqi forces said they had fought off an overnight attack by Isis near Ramadi, as thousands of displaced people poured into Baghdad. | Iraqi forces said they had fought off an overnight attack by Isis near Ramadi, as thousands of displaced people poured into Baghdad. |
| AP | AP |