UNESCO Admits That They Cannot Keep Track Of The Destruction Of Antiquities By The Islamic State

Emily Feldman, Vocativ: Even UNESCO Can’t Keep Track Of ISIS’ Destruction of Antiquities

With limited access to war-torn parts of Iraq and Syria, experts are struggling to assess the damage

Rumors began circulating over the weekend that ISIS had planted bombs at the ancient ruins of Palmyra, preparing to blow up the latest world heritage site to fall into the extremists’ hands.

The chatter started on Facebook, where an anonymous user posted images of three red-capped bottles on a page dedicated to Palmyra’s “antique treasures.” The post claimed the bottles were explosives ISIS would use to destroy the Temple of Bel, which has stood in the ancient city since the 1st Century.

Such is the challenge with confirming events inside a warzone that is off limits to experts the world relies on to verify information. Without access to much of Syria and chunks of Iraq, international experts and observers have been relying extensively on second-hand information for a sense of what’s happening on the ground.

WNU Editor: They cannot keep track because the destruction is widespread and unending. If it is any comfort .... future generations in the Middle East are going to curse the Islamic State for what they are doing now.