Harrowing images is starting to appear with slaughtered bodies of women and children on the streets after the Islamic State took control of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra last week, DailyMail,UK reports.
Eye witnesses also reported that dead bodies have strewn the streets of the ancient city in what appeared to be vengeful killings. It was reported that about 300 Syrian government supporters have been given summary execution and their bodies were among the corpses lying and rotting on the streets as a display of vengeance and terror for those who dare to oppose them. A black ISIS flag atop the ancient city citadel symbolized their conquest of the city.
Syrian State television has shown images of the rotting bodies, including the women and children massacred as revenge.
“The terrorists have killed more than 400 people.. and mutilated their bodies, under the pretext that they cooperated with the government and did not follow orders,” a commentator of the Syrian news agency said.
Included in the footage were images of the captured Syrian army whom were taken into custody by the Islamic State forces and now waiting for an uncertain fate. ISIS is known for their cruelty in treating foreign fighters opposing them. Early this year, they released a video showing how a Jordanian pilot was executed by burning him to death in his cage.
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter has criticized Iraqi forces for not having the ‘will to fight’ after the Islamic State group’s takeover of Ramadi.
“What apparently happened is the Iraqi forces just showed no will to fight. They were not outnumbered.”
‘In fact, they vastly outnumbered the opposing force. That says to me, and I think to most of us, that we have an issue with the will of the Iraqis to fight ISIL and defend themselves.’
The US Defense Secretary said that the United States is willing to provide training and support with military equipment but the Iraqi army must have the willingness to resist them.
DailyMail,UK also reported that officials at the museum had earlier carted off many priceless artifacts from the museum in anticipation of the city’s fall, but many immobile structures such as Roman era ruins, colonnade and temples are sure to face destruction. Among the ruins were the tombs of notable historical figures such as Saints and rulers of pre-Christian era.
