ISIS is booby-trapping the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria

(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, ISIS has started booby-trapping the ancient city of Palmyra in the eastern countryside of Homs, stressing that the booby-trapping of the region coincided with the intensification of clashes between government forces and ISIS elements in the vicinity of Oum Jamie village in the countryside.

“Sky News Arabia” site quoted the Syrian Observatory as saying, “ISIS militants were planting mines and improvised explosive devices in the ancient city, which has been fallen into the hands of ISIS, after the withdrawal of government forces.”

“We do not know whether ISIS will destroy the monuments of the city or planted the explosives to prevent the progress of the government forces,” the Syrian Observatory added.

The Syrian Observatory noted that “the booby-trapping of the area, which includes traces of the Roman era, coincided with the intensification of clashes between government troops, backed militias, and ISIS in the vicinity of Oum Jamie village in the eastern countryside of Homs.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced in 20 May 2015 ISIS control on the Syrian city of Palmyra after violent clashes with pro-government fighters.