Syria conflict: IS in control of key city
Islamic State militants have taken near complete control of the Syrian city of Palmyra, home to some of the world's most magnificent ancient ruins, BBC News reported.
There are fears that the militants will destroy the ruins, which UNESCO has designated a World Heritage site.
Government troops have almost entirely withdrawn from the city following an IS advance, an eyewitness told the BBC.
IS militants have demolished several ancient sites that pre-date Islam in Iraq, including Hatra and Nimrud.
Activists earlier said the group controlled much of north Tadmur, the modern town adjoining the ancient site of Palmyra, after overcoming militias loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.
Syrian state television reported citizens had been evacuated from the city amid the violence.
Omar Hamza, an activist in Palmyra, told the BBC that the area had already been "bombarded very heavily" by both IS and the government.
"There are extremely violent clashes to the east of the city," Mr Hamza said.
"Most of the historical artefacts are to the south of the city. They are between the city and the agricultural land held by IS, which has shelled the area without any regard for protecting them."
Hundreds of Palmyra's statues have been moved to safety but large monuments from the ancient parts of the city could not be moved.
"This is the entire world's battle," said Syria's head of antiquities Maamoun Abdul Karim. He called on the US-led military coalition against IS to prevent the group destroying the ancient site.
Rising out of the desert, Palmyra contains the monumental ruins of a great city that was one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world, according to Unesco, the UN's cultural agency.
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