Syria's Palmyra Temple of Bel 'severely damaged' by IS

[muriel_volestrangler]

The Islamic State (IS) militant group has destroyed part of what's considered the most important temple at the ancient Syrian site of Palmyra, activists and witnesses say.

The extent of the damage to the 2,000-year-old Temple of Bel is not clear but local residents have described being shaken by a large explosion.
...
"It is total destruction,'' one Palmyra resident told the Associated Press news agency. "The bricks and columns are on the ground."

"It was an explosion the deaf would hear," he went on, adding that only the wall of the temple remains.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34103994

[trotsky]

1. Terrible news. n/t

[Warren Stupidity]

2. shit.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. "UN confirms Palmyra temple destroyed", but Syrian government thinks not

Satellite images confirm destruction of ancient Syrian Temple of Bel in Palmyra, UN says

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

(that's all the BBC has - just posted), but:

Palmyra temple appears intact

Damascus: A blast rocked the ancient ruins in Syria’s Palmyra on Sunday but the site’s famed Temple of Bel appeared to be largely intact, Syria’s antiquities chief said.

Maamoun Abdulkarim confirmed reports of an explosion at the Unesco World Heritage-listed site, but said Palmyra’s most important temple did not appear to have sustained major damage.

“The frontal columns and the cella (interior) of the temple do not appear to have been damaged,” Abdulkarim said yesterday.

“According to the information we received from the town, the temple is still standing, but antiquities staff are not able to enter the site to see close up,” he said.

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/news/middle-east/351390/palmyra-temple-appears-intact