ISIS Gains Control of Ancient City of Palmyra
May 21, 2015
For the second time this week, the terrorist group Islamic State (ISIS) has captured a city of importance. Earlier this week, the Iraqi city of Ramadi fell to ISIS militants. On May 20, ISIS gained the Syrian city of Palmyra; this latter gain gave the militants control of more than half of the territory in Syria. This setback for the U.S.-led coalition forces fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria caused Republican legislators to question the Obama administration’s strategy of only providing air strikes in support of coalition ground troops supplied by local Middle Eastern countries. Some Republicans called for the United States to send ground troops to aid in the fight against ISIS.
Islamic State (ISIS) fighters during a military parade in Raqqa province in Syria. Credit: © Alamy Images
Palmyra’s fall was sudden. The Syrian army was unable to put forth an orderly retreat, and many lower level troops and civilians were trapped. ISIS is conducting door-to-door searches for Syrian soldiers and people thought to be loyal to the government of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. The militants then execute such people in the town square.
In addition to the human tragedy, the fall of Palmyra gives ISIS control of important bases belonging to the Syrian army and highways linking various regions of Syria. Also, Palmyra is an ancient oasis city that was an important cultural center long ago. The ruins of the ancient city are designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Because ISIS has a history of destroying pre-Islamic art and architecture, preservationists fear the ruins may be lost.
Ruins of Palmyra stand in central Syria. This ancient city thrived more than 2,000 years ago as a major stop for caravans. In mid-May 2015, the ruins came under the control of Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists. © Styve Reineck, Shutterstock
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