’Islamic State’ blow up ancient temple

Satellite images have confirmed the destruction of the Temple of Bel, which was one of the best preserved Roman-era sites in the Syrian city of Palmyra, a UN agency said, after activists said the hardline Islamic State group had targeted it.

A comparison of before and after images reveals the damage inflicted on the temple at the Unesco World Heritage site, the Geneva-based United Nations Institute for Training and Research said.

“We can confirm the destruction of the main building of the Temple of Bel as well as a row of columns in its immediate vicinity,” the agency said in an email.