Palmyra's Temple of Bel (Baal), which had reportedly suffered from a large explosion on Sunday, as reported by HNGN, has been confirmed as destroyed by the United Nations (U.N.), according to BBC News. The temple, which is held by Islamic State (ISIS), is 2,000-years-old and considered to be one of the most venerated religious buildings of the first century A.D.
Despite earlier claims from Syria's antiques chief that the temple was intact, U.N. satellite photos obtained by Unosat showed almost no remains from the blast.
"Unfortunately, the images we acquired do show that the main building of the temple has been destroyed," said Einar Bjorgo, Unosat's manager.
Majed, a local activist who is in contact with residents and activists in Palmyra, believes that this is only the first of many similar attacks to come by ISIS, according the The Wall Street Journal.
"We are hearing news that they are now planting explosives on other temples around the ancient city," he said.
The destruction of religious sites such as the Temple of Bel is thought to be a move by ISIS to loot items from the black market, gain publicity and destroy Syrian culture, reported The Guardian.
"The systematic destruction of cultural symbols embodying Syrian cultural diversity reveals the true intent of such attacks, which is to deprive the Syrian people of its knowledge, its identity and history," said Unesco director Irina Bokova.
Before the formation of ISIS and rise of the Syrian conflict, over 150,000 tourists visited Palmyra each year, many of them to see the Temple of Bel.
