BEIRUT — Suspected Russian warplanes bombed the outskirts of Islamic State-held Palmyra on Monday, sending smoke rising out of an area that includes a historic castle overlooking the Syrian city’s Roman ruins, activists said.
An activist in Palmyra who goes by the name Nasser al-Thaer said at least eight airstrikes struck the area of the Islamic-era castle, sending smoke and clouds of dust rising from the hill where the castle is located. An earlier round of airstrikes on Sunday hit behind the castle, al-Thaer said.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 10 suspected Russian airstrikes targeted the castle area in Palmyra, causing damage.
Palmyra, seized by IS group in May, is home to world-famous Roman ruins and was one of Syria’s most attractive tourist destinations. IS has destroyed a number of its renowned sites because it believes ancient artifacts promote idolatry.
Activists also reported suspected Russian airstrikes on a nearby town, Qaryatain, which was seized by IS fighters in August. The Observatory said at least 10 people were killed in the central town. The Local Coordination Committees, another monitoring group, said at least 15 civilians were killed after the airstrikes hit a bread distribution center.
The airstrikes come a day after Islamic State fighters expanded their presence in the central Homs province. IS fighters seized the town of Mahin, east of Qaryatain, on Sunday, and attacked the majority-Christian town of Sadad. The new expansion brings the IS group closer to a highway linking Damascus to the central Homs province, threatening to endanger government supply routes.
Russia has said its air campaign is aimed at helping the Syrian government defeat the IS group and other “terrorists,” but many of its airstrikes have hit Syrian rebel groups and areas where IS is not present.
Also on Monday, the IS group claimed responsibility for last week’s slaying of two Syrian activists in Turkey.
Ibrahim Abdul-Qadir and Fares Hamadi were found dead in an apartment in the Turkish city of Sanliurfa on Friday.
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