Open Search form

×

Live Update arrow right icon

From the Liveblog of Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Syrian antiquities scholar had refused to lead IS to artifacts

19 August 2015, 4:02 pm

Edit

The Syrian antiquities scholar in the ancient town of Palmyra who was beheaded by the Islamic State Tuesday had refused to lead his captors to hidden artifacts, the Guardian reports.

Khaled al-Asaad, 81, reportedly refused to divulge to the jihadists where artifacts removed by Syrian officials before the city was overrun by the Islamic State had been stored.

In this undated photo released Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015 by the Syrian official news agency SANA, one of Syria's most prominent antiquities scholars, Khaled al-Asaad, speaks in Syria. Islamic State militants beheaded al-Asaad in the ancient town of Palmyra, Syria, then strapped his body to one of the town's Roman columns, Syrian state media and an activist group said Wednesday. The killing of 81-year-old al-Asaad was the latest atrocity perpetrated by the militant group, which has captured a third of both Syria and Iraq. (SANA via AP) — In this undated photo released Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015 by the Syrian official news agency SANA, one of Syria’s most prominent antiquities scholars, Khaled al-Asaad, speaks in Syria. Islamic State militants beheaded al-Asaad in the ancient town of Palmyra, Syria, then strapped his body to one of the town’s Roman columns, Syrian state media and an activist group said Wednesday. The killing of 81-year-old al-Asaad was the latest atrocity perpetrated by the militant group, which has captured a third of both Syria and Iraq. (SANA via AP)

If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.

JOIN THE TOI COMMUNITY