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Events on Sunday 23 August 2015 1
2015Islamic State Destroys Temples at PalmyraAncient Syrian ruins demolished after ISIS captured the cityIslamic State militants who had captured the Syrian city of Palmyra destroyed the ancient Temple of Baalshamin and the Temple of Bel, among the best-preserved structures of the UNESCO World Heritage site. The group also beheaded the site's 82-year-old former chief antiquities officer, Khaled al-Asaad, for refusing to reveal the location of hidden artifacts. The destruction drew worldwide condemnation as an act of cultural genocide.