Syria announces the discovery of a mass grave near the theater of the ancient city of Palmyra

On Friday, the Syrian authorities announced the discovery of a mass grave near the theater of the ancient city of Palmyra in the center of the country, from which 12 bodies were recovered. It is likely that ISIS executed them during its control of the region.

Between May 2015 and March 2017, the organization took control of the city of Palmyra in Homs governorate twice, before the Syrian army, with the support of its ally Russia, was able to expel it from it.

The organization destroyed many of the city's ancient landmarks and executed a number of the city's residents.

The official Syrian news agency, SANA, reported that the competent authorities "found the remains of a number of civilian and military martyrs in a mass grave in the vicinity of the archaeological theater in the city of Palmyra. ISIS terrorists executed them during the period of their control over the city."

According to SANA, 12 bodies were recovered from the cemetery, and they were taken to hospitals for DNA tests in preparation for their identification.

During its control of the city, the militants of the extremist organization destroyed some of its monuments, which are included in the list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

They also carried out executions, most notably the director of antiquities in the city, Khaled Al-Asaad (82 years).

During the past years, a number of mass graves were found several times in areas formerly under the control of the extremist organization, most notably in the city of Raqqa, its former stronghold in Syria, and in Deir ez-Zor governorate (east).

The organization has controlled large areas in Syria and neighboring Iraq since the summer of 2014, before it was gradually expelled.

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