In Palmyra’s ancient Temple of Bel, conquering Syrian soldiers found ISIS terrorists buried human sacrifices and land mines alike.
The site was recaptured from the Da’esh (ISIS) terror group a week ago by the Syrian military backed by Russian forces. Da’esh had seized control over the UNESCO heritage site in May 2015.
Forty-two victims of the bloodthirsty faith of Da’esh (ISIS), of whom 24 were civilians and three were children, were found Friday in a mass grave at the site, AFP reported. All had been beheaded or shot to death.
The news agency quoted a military source who said the soldiers “uncovered a mass grave of officers, soldiers, members of the popular committees (pro-regime militia) and their relatives.” At least 280 people were murdered by Da’esh during the time the terror group held the site, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The ruins of the ancient city were also honeycombed with land mines as well, according to a Reuters reporter who quoted a Syrian officer, in hopes of creating an even larger mass grave.
Thousands of mines were rigged in the main streets and side roads of Palmyra, weighing up to 50 kg, and planned to detonate simultaneously as conquering forces moved in.
“All the government buildings are rigged in a network connected to the Da’esh leadership headquarters,” the Syrian officer said. “The idea was that as we enter it would all go off at once, not just bomb by bomb. And there are a really huge number of bombs.”
More than 3,000 of the roadside bombs and land mines have already been defused since the site was retaken, according to the report. He did not explain why the explosives did not detonate.