Sunni extremist group IS blows up ancient Arch of Triumph in Syria's Palmyra

ARTDAILY
A file picture taken on June 19, 2010 shows the Arch of Triumph among the Roman ruins of Palmyra. AFP PHOTO / FILES.
SYRIA---Islamic State extremists have blown up the famous Arch of Triumph in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, the country's head of antiquities said Monday, as the jihadists press their campaign to tear down the treasured heritage site. The militants have carried out a sustained campaign of destruction against heritage sites in areas under their control in Syria and Iraq, and in mid-August beheaded Palmyra's 82-year-old former antiquities chief. Syrian antiquities director Maamun Abdulkarim warned of impending catastrophe in the UNESCO-listed world heritage site, which the jihadists have been dismantling since capturing the ruins in May. [link]