Russian video shows fresh IS damage in Palmyra

Russia releases footage from one of its drones in Syria, revealing for the first time the latest destruction to the ruins of historic Palmyra since it was recaptured by Islamic State militants, as Syrian government forces push ahead on the ground in a new offensive to take the city back.

The drone footage, released in Moscow, shows that IS militants have badly damaged the facade of the Roman-era theater and the Tetrapylon — a set of four monuments with four columns each at the center of the colonnaded road leading to the theater.

The video appears to show that only two of the 16 columns remain standing.

The footage also reveals sustained truck movements around the archaeological site, suggesting the militants could be preparing for further demolitions by bringing in explosives, warns the Russian Defense Ministry.

— AP