The destruction of Palmyra by ISIS
Syria's civil war has caused widespread horror and destruction. The greatest cultural loss has been the ancient city of Palmyra, a world heritage site. Syrian government troops, backed by Russia forces, recaptured the city after a fierce offensive on March 27, 2016, rescuing it from jihadists who view the UNESCO-listed site's magnificent ruins as idolatrous. For ISIS, Palmyra was a strategic prize and an opportunity to taunt the world -- with videos that showed fighters destroying priceless treasures and a mass execution in Palmyra's Roman amphitheater.
Among Palmyra's greatest losses is the temple of Bel. On March 31, 2016, photographer,Joseph Eid, holds his picture of the Temple of Bel in Palmyra taken on March 14, 2014 in front of the remains of the historic temple after it was destroyed by ISIS jihadists in September 2015.
Arc du Triomphe
On March 31, 2016 Eid holds his picture of the Arc du Triomphe (Triumph's Arch) taken on March 14, 2014 in front of the remains of the historic monument after it was destroyed by ISIS in October 2015 in Palmyra.
For 2,000 years, the Roman Triumphal Arch spanned the entrance. Now it's gone, brought down by ISIS explosives.
Temple of Bel
On March 31, 2016, Eid holds his picture of the Temple of Bel taken on March 14, 2014 in front of the remains of the historic temple after it was destroyed in September 2015 Palmyra.
During their rule of Palmyra, the extremists demolished some of its best-known artifacts and monuments, including two large temples dating back more than 1,800 years and a Roman triumphal archway.
The Syrian army said it was dangerous to venture further into the ruins because they are laced with mines and dynamite.
Temple of Bel
A general view on March 31, 2016 shows the Temple of Bel in a photo taken on March 14, 2014 in front of the remains of the historic temple after it was destroyed in September 2015 in Palmyra.
The Syrian army said it was dangerous to venture further into the ruins because they are laced with mines and dynamite.
Palmyra museum
A photo on March 31, 2016 shows a photo of the museum of Palmyra taken on March 14, 2014 in front of what remains of the same spot after it was destroyed by ISIS in Palmyra.
Among the many horrors committed by ISIS was the the execution of 81-year-old Khaled al-Asaad, who was Palmyra's director of antiquities. He was decapitated by ISIS and his body put on display after her reportedly refused to divulge where authorities had hidden some of the treasures before the group swept in.
Palmyra museum
Destruction in Palmyra's museum seen on March 31, 2016.
Syria's head of antiquities and museums, Maamoun Abdul-Karim, told The Associated Press that a team from his department was sent to Palmyra, known among Syrians as the "Bride of the Desert," to estimate the losses.
Palmyra museum
The face of a statue lies on the ground at the destroyed museum in the ancient city of Palmyra on March 31, 2016.
The recapture of Palmyra by Syrian government forces scored an important victory over ISIS fighters who had waged a 10-month reign of terror there.
Palmyra museum
Damaged busts are seen in Palmyra's museum on March 31, 2016. Delicate stone busts have had their faces hacked away throughout the museum.
Palmyra museum
Statues, with heads removed, are seen in Palmyra's museum on March 31, 2016.
Abdul-Karim said that ISIS fighters smashed the statues' faces but didn't totally destroy them. "We can renovate them," he said. "Yes, we lost part of the original but we didn't totally lose them."
"All smashed statues can be renovated as they were not totally destroyed," he said.
Palmyra museum
Beheaded statues are seen on the ground in the destroyed museum in Palmyra on March 31, 2016.
Palmyra museum
Damaged busts are seen in Palmyra's museum on March 31, 2016.
Palmyra museum
A Syrian soldier walks past the remains of a statue in a heavily damaged street in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra on March 31, 2016.
Palmyra museum
Beheaded and mutilated statues are seen in the destroyed museum in Palmyra on March 31, 2016.
Palmyra museum
A beheaded and mutilated statue in the destroyed museum in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra on March 31, 2016.