According to Reuters, opposition activists on social media claimed that hundreds of bodies were in the streets of the city.
Islamic State militants have entered Syria's historic city of Palmyra, a UNESCO landmark, earlier this week after gaining full control over the city. The UN human rights office said Thursday that one-third of Palmyra's population of 200,000 have fled the city, although there have also been reports of government forces preventing civilians from leaving until they had abandoned the town themselves.
We call for an IMMEDIATE END to hostilities in #WorldHeritage Palmyra http://t.co/gJVML7MHUS #Unite4Heritage pic.twitter.com/dIvXWRVGZi— UNESCO (@UNESCO) May 20, 2015
@UNESCO chief urges 'immediate' cessation of hostilities at #Palmyra world heritage site http://t.co/1zhADo8xiE pic.twitter.com/dKX4An2Avp — UN News Centre (@UN_News_Centre) May 20, 2015
Comment: Such a tragedy. How much longer can Syria withstand the slaughter?