PHOTOS

In Pictures: Heritage sites in Iraq and Syria under threat from ISIS militants

A picture taken on March 14, 2014, shows the Temple of Baal Shamin seen through two Corinthian columns in the ancient oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres north-east of Damascus. PHOTO: AFP

Updated

Published

Aug 24, 2015, 01:00 AM

A general view taken on May 18, 2015, showing the castle in Palmyra, a day after ISIS militants fired rockets into the city and killed five people. PHOTO: AFP

A file picture taken on March 14, 2015, shows Syrian citizens walking in Palmyra. PHOTO: AFP

A file picture dated Nov 12, 2010, showing a general view of Palmyra. PHOTO: EPA

Unesco has also stepped in to call for an end to the fighting, urging the world to do everything it can to protect the population "and safeguard the unique cultural heritage".

A file picture taken on March 14, 2014, showing a partial view of the theatre in Palmyra. PHOTO: AFP

A file picture taken on March 14, 2014, showing a partial view of Palmyra. PHOTO: AFP

They then released a video the following month showing militants, armed with sledgehammers and other tools, destroying statues and artefacts in the Mosul Museum.

An image grab taken off a video reportedly released ISIS on Feb 25, 2015, allegedly shows a militant destroying the statue of Lamassu, an Assyrian diety, with a jackhammer in Nineveh. PHOTO: AFP

This image grab taken from a video on April 11, 2015, allegedly shows members of ISIS destroying a stone slab with a sledgehammer at what they claimed was the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud in northern Iraq. PHOTO: AFP

ISIS militants using sledgehammers on a toppled statue said to be in Mosul Museum in this still image taken from an undated video. PHOTO: REUTERS

An ISIS militant toppling a statue in what is thought to be Mosul Museum in this still image taken from an undated video. PHOTO: REUTERS

A picture taken on April 21, 2003, shows the courtyard of the royal palace at the archaeological site of Hatra. PHOTO: AFP

A file picture taken on July 17, 2001, shows Iraqi workers cleaning a statue of a winged bull at an archeological site in Nimrud. PHOTO: AFP

A picture taken on April 9, 2013, shows a partial view of a bas relief, dated from the Assyrian civilization, at the archaeological site of Nimrud. PHOTO: AFP

A picture taken on April 9, 2013, shows an ancient statue of a winged bull with a human face, an indication of strength in the Assyrian civilisation, at the archaeological site of Nimrud. PHOTO: AFP

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