World News
Islamic State militants takes city of Palmyra─── 00:00 Thu, 21 May 2015
Palmyra - Islamic State militants have taken near complete control of the Syrian city of Palmyra, home to some of the world's most magnificent ancient ruins.
There are fears that the militants will destroy the ruins, which Unesco has designated a World Heritage site.
An eyewitness told the BBC that government troops have almost entirely withdrawn from the city following an IS advance.
IS militants have demolished several ancient sites that pre-date Islam in Iraq, including Hatra and Nimrud.
Syrian state television reports that citizens have been evacuated from the city amid the violence.
BBC