Images from Palmyra reveal extent of IS destruction

Syrian troops recaptured the world heritage site ten months after the militant group seized it

The Unesco World Heritage site was occupied by IS forces for 10 months
The Unesco World Heritage site was occupied by IS forces for 10 months
Priceless monuments and sculptures were destroyed
Priceless monuments and sculptures were destroyed
The museum at Palmyra suffered severe damage
The museum at Palmyra suffered severe damage
The museum at Palmyra suffered severe damage
The museum at Palmyra suffered severe damage

New images emerging from the ancient city of Palmyra reveal the extent of destruction at the Unesco World Heritage site after its 10-month occupation by Islamic State militants.

The photos were taken hours after Syrian troops recaptured the site from IS.

While some treasured monuments have been destroyed, much of the ancient city's ruins are said to remain intact. Syria's antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim said authorities had been "expecting the worst".

However he told the AFP news agency that "the landscape, in general, is in good shape". He was planning to visit the city on Monday and start a survey of the ruins.

IS seized the Unesco World Heritage site and modern town in May 2015. Soon after, they killed the archaeologist who looked after the ruins for 40 years.

Palmyra is situated in a strategically important area on the road between the capital, Damascus, and the contested eastern city of Deir al-Zour.

When IS seized the city it destroyed archaeological sites, provoking global outrage. Two 2,000-year-old temples, an arch and funerary towers were left in ruins.

The jihadist group, which has also demolished several pre-Islamic sites in neighbouring Iraq, believes that such structures are idolatrous.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, said at least 400 IS fighters were killed in the battle for Palmyra.

In a statement released on Saturday, Russia's defence ministry said its strikes hit 158 IS targets, killing more than 100 militants.