Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Extraordinary drone footage reveals scale of devastation at Palmyra after it was ransacked by ISIS but experts claim they can restore historic site within five years

Extraordinary drone footage reveals scale of devastation at Palmyra after it was ransacked by ISIS but experts claim they can restore historic site within five years


  • Government forces worked with Russian military to free the ancient archaeological site of Palmyra from ISIS
  • There were huge concerns that the 4,000 year old historic monuments in the city's site would have been demolished
  • However, new drone footage reveals only the surprising amount of the temple site which appears to remain intact 
  • See more news from Syria at www.dailymail.co.uk/syria 


Extraordinary new drone footage has revealed the extent of the devastation wrecked by the jihadi group ISIS after they captured Palmyra last summer.

ISIS destroyed a number of key archaeological features on the site, including the Temple of Baal, leaving archaeologists with a difficult task of re-constructing the ancient landmarks. 

Despite the damage, Syria's antiquities chief believes the ancient site of Palmyra could be fully restored to its former glory in five years after Syrian government forces re-captured the ISIS-held site.

'We were expecting the worst. But the landscape, in general, is in good shape. 'We could have completely lost Palmyra. The joy I feel is indescribable.'' Maamoun Abdulkarim told AFP. 

'If we have UNESCO's approval, we will need five years to restore the structures damaged or destroyed by IS,' he said.

Scroll down for video: 
During its rule of Palmyra, IS killed scores of people and destroyed invaluable artifacts dating back more than 1,800 years, along with a famed Roman triumphal archway
During its rule of Palmyra, IS killed scores of people and destroyed invaluable artifacts dating back more than 1,800 years, along with a famed Roman triumphal archway
IS had used Palmyra's ancient theatre as a venue for public executions and also murdered the city's 82-year-old former antiquities chief 
IS had used Palmyra's ancient theatre as a venue for public executions and also murdered the city's 82-year-old former antiquities chief 
Russian forces, which intervened in support of longtime ally Assad last September, were heavily involved in the Palmyra offensive despite a major drawdown last week
Russian forces, which intervened in support of longtime ally Assad last September, were heavily involved in the Palmyra offensive despite a major drawdown last week
The damage within the hugely significant historical landscape was predicted to be massive following brutal combat exchanges between the extremist group and the regime
The damage within the hugely significant historical landscape was predicted to be massive following brutal combat exchanges between the extremist group and the regime
Ruins of the Monumental Arch destroyed by ISIS militants in Palmyra, a UNESCO world heritage site
Ruins of the Monumental Arch destroyed by ISIS militants in Palmyra, a UNESCO world heritage site

Syrian's government forces celebrated ousting ISIS from Palmyra by enjoying a kick-about amongst the ancient city's 4,000 year-old ruins.

The regime troops relaxed with a quick game of football after finally ridding the UNESCO World Heritage site of the extremist faction following three weeks of fighting.

Still armed with rifles and dressed in combat gear, the soldiers let loose in an area which until only yesterday had been a stronghold for the Islamic State. 
They were joined by pro-government militiamen and Russian fighters who strolled among the ruins in awe after seizing the city on Sunday.

ISIS terror chiefs sparked a global outcry when they started destroying Palmyra's treasured monuments, which they consider idolatrous, after taking the city in May 2015. 

No comments:

Post a Comment