UN: Satellite images show Temple of Bel in Syria "destroyed"

Damascus, Syria - Einar Bjorgo, manager of UN satellite analysts UNOSAT, says "unfortunately shows the destruction of the temple's main building."

The United Nations says that a satellite image confirms that the main building of the ancient Temple of Bel in the Syrian town of Palmyra has been destroyed.
There had been reports that a large explosion set off by Daesh militants on Sunday had extensively damaged the 2,000-year-old temple, but there were conflicting accounts regarding the extent of the destruction.
Einar Bjorgo, manager of UN satellite analysts UNOSAT, says a satellite image taken on Monday "unfortunately shows the destruction of the temple's main building" as well as "a row of columns in its immediate vicinity."
Daesh, which captured Palmyra in May, destroyed the smaller Temple of Baalshamin in the complex last week and posted images of the destruction days later.

Baal Shamin temple in #Palmyra Syria: a close-up of the destruction with analysis. pic.twitter.com/5nDySLQcxI
- UNOSAT (@UNOSAT) August 31, 2015

UNOSAT satellite analysis confirms Temple of #Bel #Palmyra #Syria main building destroyed @UNESCO @UrtheCast @UNITAR pic.twitter.com/IZWRN0Tsil
- UNOSAT (@UNOSAT) August 31, 2015

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