IS Seizes Control Of Ancient City Of Palmyra

Islamic State has claimed complete control of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, including military sites and its historic ruins.

The militant group said it had taken over the city's air base and notorious prison after pro-government forces withdrew.

In a statement issued on Twitter, IS said it took Palmyra "after the collapse of the Nasseri regime's forces and their retreat, leaving behind them large numbers of dead that have filled the battle grounds".

At least 462 people have been killed since IS started its offensive on the city, including 71 civilians, 241 regime forces, and 150 jihadists, according to the British-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

There are fears the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes 2,000-year-old temples and colonnaded streets, could be destroyed but no damage has been reported so far.

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Hundreds of statues and artefacts were taken to safer locations ahead of the IS offensive but many larger items, such as stone tombs, could not be moved.

Syrian antiquities director Maamoun Abdulkarim had warned that IS fighters would "destroy everything" if they seized Palmyra and urged the international community to help save the site.

"If IS succeeds, it will not be a victory against Syrian people (but) one against America, China, France, Britain and Russia and all permanent members in the Security Council as well as the international community," he said.

"They must, at least, prevent the advance of any reinforcements to the groups that have already crept into the city."

The director-general of UNESCO appealed for an immediate ceasefire in and around Palmyra.

"We may have different beliefs, we may have different views, but we have to protect the such incredible vestiges of human history," Irina Bokova said.

"And I would appeal indeed that destroying heritage will not achieve anything.

"Destroying such heritage does not mean that you achieve some kind of victory over your enemy.

"You don't convince other people that you are right.

"And I would appeal strongly to all sides once again to review strategies, to review their military actions, and to protect and preserve Palmyra."

The militant group has already destroyed antiquities at the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud and the Roman-era city of Hatra .

IS began its assault on Palmyra on 13 May by seizing a nearby town and two gas fields, and killing more than 350 people.

The city is located at a strategic crossroad for key highways leading to Damascus and Homs, and east into Iraq.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said IS now controlled half of all territory in Syria with the Assad regime suffering a series of defeats to both IS and other rebels since March.

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Sky News' Foreign Affairs Editor Sam Kiley said: "It is highly significant on a cultural level as Palmyra is one of the great jewels of the world.

"But it is also very profoundly important in contemporary culture in that IS has now overrun the prison, one of the most notorious in the country.

"Until the last few weeks, or just over a month, IS has not really been interested in attacking government positions.

"That has changed as the Assad regime has come under pressure from other rebel groups."

IS took Palmyra days after seizing Ramadi in Iraq, which was seen as the most significant setback for Iraqi security forces in nearly a year.

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