Islamic State militants have destroyed Palmyra’s ancient temple of Baalshamin. IS took control of Palmyra in May, sparking fears for the site. It is considered one of the ancient world’s most important cultural centres. Maamoun Abdulkarim, Syria’s antiquities chief, said the group placed a large quantity of explosives in the temple of Baal Shamin on Sunday and blew it up, causing much damage.

The Islamic State group has destroyed several ancient sites in Iraq. The militants believe any shrines or statues implying the existence of another deity are sacrilege and idolatry, and should be destroyed.

Ancient city of Palmyra

• It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• It is famously referred as Pearl of the Desert.
• The site contains monumental ruins of great city, once one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world from the 1st and 2nd Centuries
• Its art and architecture combines Greco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian influences
• More than 150,000 tourists visited Palmyra every year before Syrian conflict.
• Site boasts a number of monumental projects, over 1,000 columns, and a formidable necropolis of over 500 tombs
• The ancient city is famed for its well-preserved Greco-Roman ruins, and the Baalshamin temple, built nearly 2,000 years ago, is one of the city’s best-known buildings.