Satellite Confirms Palmyra Temple of Bel DESTROYED

[Anthea]

BBC News

Is Palmyra's Temple of Bel 'still standing'

Palmyra's ancient Temple of Bel is still standing despite an attempt by Islamic State (IS) militants to blow it up, Syria's antiquities chief has said.

Maamoun Abdulkarim confirmed there was a large explosion within its perimeter but said the basic structure of the 2,000-year-old site was intact.

But the extent of the damage is unclear with witnesses unable to get close to the temple.

Initial reports said the site had been partially destroyed.

Mr Abdulkarim, head of the Syrian Department of Antiquities and Museums, said "our information is provisional, but it indicates that any damage done was partial, and the basic structure is still standing".

Link to Full Article - Photos - Video:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34107395

[Anthea]

If Palmyra is a protected site why does nobody protect it?

Where are the UN peace keeping forces and NATO?

VERY SOON nothing of any historical value will remain in Syria

Also all the normal reasonable intelligent Syrian people and the Kurds will have been driven out

Syria will become a country where there is nothing left but hordes of murdering jihad groups fighting for control of what is left of the Syria

[Anthea]

BBC News

Palmyra's Temple of Bel 'destroyed'

A satellite image confirms that a temple in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra 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 Islamic State (IS).

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.

"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.

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.

Link to Shameful Full Article - Videos - Photos:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34111092