Takfiri ISIL militants have executed 26 Syrian civilians after overrunning their villages near the ancient city of Palmyra, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says.
"Daesh (Arabic acronym of ISIL) executed 26 civilians, including at least 10 by beheading,” after alleging that they had collaborated with the Syrian government forces, said Rami Abdel Rahman, the director of the Observatory, on Thursday.
ISIL, with members from several Western countries, controls parts of Syria and Iraq, and has been carrying out horrific acts of violence such as public decapitations and crucifixions against all communities, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, and Christians.
The observatory earlier reported that Syrian forces have been engaged in fierce battles with the terrorist group in efforts to block their attempt to destroy the historic city in the western province of Homs.
This is while heavy fighting is underway between Syrian troops and ISIL elements just two kilometers from the renowned world cultural heritage, AFP reported citing the Observatory.
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Earlier in the day, Head of Syria’s Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) Mamoun Abdulkarim warned that “an international catastrophe” will occur should the ISIL terrorists manage to gain access to the historic city.
If ISIL “enters Palmyra, it will spell its destruction … If the ancient city falls, it will be an international catastrophe. It will be a repetition of the barbarism and savagery which we saw in Nimrud, Hatra and Mosul,” said Abdulkarim, referring to ISIL’s destruction of ancient sites in neighboring Iraq.
The official further stated that the Syrian forces have transferred some of the precious historical artifacts to an adjacent museum, noting that the Takfiri terrorist have “not entered the city yet, and we hope these barbarians will never enter.”
The Takfiri terrorists have razed to the ground a number of mosques in Syria and Iraq, many of them dating back to the early years of the Islamic civilization. The terrorists have also destroyed tombs belonging to revered Shia and Sunni figures.
In April, the ISIL terrorist group released a video showing the Takfiri militants destroying artifacts at Iraq’s northern ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud before blowing up the site.
Also in February, the terrorists smashed ancient statues at the Ninawa museum in Mosul, using sledgehammers and drills.
MFB/KA