The Ministry of defence of the Russian Federation suggested that the militants “Islamic state” (is Russian terrorist group; ISIS, ISIL or DAISH) dumped in Palmyra explosives to retreat to the background of the approach of the Syrian army destroy the remaining monuments of the ancient city. The data about the destruction of several unique architectural monuments, which appeared in January, confirmed by intelligence using a drone. In the Kremlin hope for the liberation of the ancient city from terrorists.
The Ministry of defence of the Russian Federation drew attention to the recent developments in the movement of trucks ISIS near Palmyra, which may indicate a delivery in the town of explosives. “Against the background of successful advancement of the Syrian troops to Palmyra Russian unmanned fixed another activation of the movement of trucks of terrorists in the area of the ancient city. This is evidence of the intent of ISIS to deliver the explosives to destroy the remaining ancient architectural monuments in front of his retreat,” – said in the message of the defense Ministry, which is quoted by TASS.
In addition, the defense Ministry on its channel on YouTube has posted a video confirming that the terrorists destroyed the famous architectural monuments of ancient Palmyra , the Roman theater and tetrapylonwhat became known in January 2017. The Agency States that the damage was recorded by the Russian drones in monitoring the city of Tadmor (HOMS province) and surrounding areas.
As explained in the Ministry, the footage clearly shows that the terrorists blew up the proscenium, the Central part of the ancient Roman theatre, and the pillars of tetrapylon (ruins built in the year 270 a rectangular building with four entrances). The destruction of these cultural monuments back in January of this year, according to the Department of antiquities and museums of Syria, citing satellite images. It was noted that of the 16 columns of tetrapylon survived only four.
In addition, the defense Ministry reported that in September of 2016 during a special expedition of the Russian topographers and archaeologists of the Institute of history of material culture Institute together with the specialists of the military Department completed a unique aerial photography of the territory of ancient Palmyra. “In the result, metric high-precision three-dimensional terrain model and objects of architecture, created detailed orthophotos, spatial resolution which is much higher than existing satellite imagery. All this allows space and details to provide, what was the ancient city to the barbaric destruction,” – said the press service of the Ministry.
The Department argued that at the moment, “Russia has the actual recording and visualization of current status” of the ancient city.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has expressed hope for the liberation of Palmyra from ISIS, according to RBC. Press Secretary of Russian President Dmitry Peskov said that “terrorists, barbarians” continue to destroy “monuments of civilization”, and the government of the Russian Federation sorry about that. “We hope that sooner or later will manage these historical places to release from these, which cannot be called human beings, from these barbarians,” – said the representative of the Kremlin. At the same time, Peskov declined to reveal details of the strategy and tactics of the operation in Syria.
Currently, the Syrian military is advancing on Palmyra for its release. So, February 7 in the Russian General staff said that the Syrian army “has passed the large part of the way” to the ancient city.
“Islamic state” once again captured Palmyra in December last year, continuing to destroy local monuments. This event has generated in the Western media speculation about the weakness of the army of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which, as expected, on the background of the attack near Aleppo was not strong enough to repel attacks of terrorists in other areas.
The Syrian army with the support of Russia recaptured the ancient city from the militants in March 2016.
For the first time, Palmyra was captured by militants on may 21, 2015. Immediately after this, the Islamists began to destroy the unique cultural objects of the ancient town, recognized as UNESCO world heritage.
The terrorists of ISIS smashed with sledgehammers ancient statues in Palmyra, destroyed the temple of Baal Shamin (II century ad), destroyed the temple of Bel, built in ‘ 32 (I century BC), destroyed three tombs of a local patrician, built in the period from 44 to 103 BC, blew a triumphal archbuilt by the Romans about two thousand years ago, and blew up three ancient columns, linking him to three people.