Ancient sites in peril or destroyed by Islamic State extremists

Islamic State militants in Syria are threatening ancient sites. The group has destroyed ancient artifacts in some areas that it controlled.

The ancient oasis city of Palmyra, Syria, was seized by militants of Islamic State, putting the world heritage site at risk of destruction as has occurred in other areas taken by the group.

(JOSEPH EID / AFP/Getty Images)

Joseph Eid / AFP/Getty Images

Palmyra, Syria -- Islamic State militants have blown up Palmyra's ancient Arch of Triumph, foreground, according to Syrian activists.

Palmyra, Syria -- This combination satellite-acquired images shows the Temple of Bel in Syria's ancient city of Palmyra on Aug. 27, 2015, top, and as rubble on Aug. 31, 2015. "We can confirm destruction of the main building of the Temple of Bel as well as a row of columns in its immediate vicinity," the UN training and research agency UNITAR said.

Palmyra, Syria -- Islamic State militants destroyed the 2,000-year-old temple of Baalshamin in August 2015.

Palmyra, Syria -- The remains of the temple of Baalshamin after it was destroyed.

In this image posted on a militant website by the Aleppo branch of the Islamic State group on Friday, July 3, 2015, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, a militant smashes items that the group claims are smuggled archaeological pieces from the historic central town of Palmyra, Syria. An IS statement says the busts were found when the smuggler was stopped at a checkpoint and was later referred to an Islamic which ordered that they be destroyed and the man be whipped. (militant website via AP)

(Associated Press)

Palmyra, Syria -- An Islamic State militant smashes an ancient statue that the group said was among items seized from a smuggler at a checkpoint.

This image taken from a video on April 11, 2015, is said to show members of Islamic State destroying a stone slab with a sledgehammer at the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud in northern Iraq.

(AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Nimrud, Iraq -- A priceless, ancient carved stone slab is demolished by Islamic State militants on April 11, 2015.

An undated video is said to show Islamic State members destroying parts of a frieze at the ancient Iraqi city of Nimrud.

(EPA)

EPA

Nimrud, Iraq -- Islamic State members destroy parts of a frieze at the ancient city of Nimrud.

An image taken from a video is said to show smoke billowing from an ancient site in northern Iraq after it was wired with explosives by Islamic State.

(AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Nimrud, Iraq -- Smoke billows from an archaeological site that was wired with explosives and destroyed by Islamic State.

In this image taken from video, a militant topples an ancient statue at the Ninevah Museum in Mosul, Iraq.

(Associate Press)

Associated Press

Mosul, Iraq -- In Islamic State militant topples an ancient artifact in the Ninevah Museum. Militants have looted and vandalized the museum in Mosul and have inflicted massive damage on the ancient cities of Hatra and Ninevah, both UNESCO world heritage sites.

A militant uses a power tool to destroy a winged-bull, an Assyrian protective deity, at the Nineveh Museum in Mosul, Iraq.

(Associated Press)

Associated Press

Mosul, Iraq -- A militant defaces an Assyrian winged bull deity at the Ninevah Museum.

A militant hammers away at a face on a wall in Hatra, a fortified city recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site southwest of Mosul, Iraq. The Islamic State group’s attacks on these famed archaeological treasures are motivated in part by the group’s hostility to non-Islamic cultures. But some antiquities authorities have charged that the destruction is a cover for the militants’ lucrative business selling looted artifacts on the black market.

(Associated Press)

Associated Press

Hatra, Iraq -- An Islamic State militant hammers away at a carved wall in Hatra, an ancient fortified city recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site.

A militant hammers away at a face on a wall in Hatra, a fortified Iraqi city recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site.

(Associated Press)

Associated Press

Hatra, Iraq -- A militant takes a sledgehammer to a carved head in Hatra

A militant fires his weapon at faces on a wall in Hatra, a fortified Iraqi city recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site.

(Associated Press)

Associated Press

Hatra, Iraq -- A militant uses his machine gun to deface a carved wall.

Satellite pictures show the shrine of Uwais al-Qurani and Ammar bin Yasser in the Syrian city of Raqa on Oct. 12, 2011, left, and Oct. 6, 2014. Nearly 300 cultural heritage sites have been destroyed, damaged and looted in Syria since its conflict broke out in 2011, the UN said. Detailed analysis of satellite imagery of 290 locations at these sites showed 24 of them had been destroyed, 104 severely damaged, 85 moderately damaged and 77 possibly damaged.

(AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Raqa, Syria -- Satellite images show the shrine of Uwais al-Qurani and Ammar bin Yasser in the Syrian city of Raqa on Oct. 12, 2011, left, and on Oct. 6, 2014, after it had been ravaged by Islamic State militants. Nearly 300 cultural heritage sites have been destroyed, damaged and looted in Syria since its conflict broke out in 2011, the U.N. said.