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IS Partially Destroys Temple Of Bel - Reports

IS Partially Destroys Temple Of Bel - Reports

Islamic State has partially destroyed the Temple of Bel in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, according to reports.

The extent of damage to the Roman-era structure is not yet known, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

However, a Palmyra resident has told the Associated Press that the temple has been left severely damaged by the attack, claiming "the bricks and the columns are on the ground".

Nasser al Thaer added that only the temple's wall remained, and described a huge blast heard in the area on Sunday afternoon as "an explosion the deaf would hear".

The Bel Temple was well preserved and had been considered one of the greatest sites of the ancient world, much to the pride of Syrians.

Earlier this week, photos circulated by IS supporters appeared to show the extremist group blowing up the Baal Shamin temple, also in the desert city.

UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organisation, has described the destruction of these ancient structures as a "war crime".

Earlier in August, it emerged that Khaled Assad, an 82-year-old antiquities scholar who had looked after Palmyra's ruins for more than four decades, has been beheaded by IS.

The group, which holds territory across Iraq and Syria, regularly demolishes monuments it deems to be sacrilegious.

Academics from Oxford and Harvard Universities are planning to "flood" the Middle East with 5,000 3D cameras by the end of the year - in an attempt to preserve historic buildings at risk of destruction by Islamic State.

Should vulnerable buildings and artefacts be destroyed, the detailed images could be used as a blueprint for recreating them with 3D printers.

In the weeks before Palmyra was captured by IS in May, Syrian officials said they had moved hundreds of ancient statues to safe locations, for fear they would also be destroyed.