After the sappers managed to clear mines at the entrance and in some parts of the city, the military unblocked the road and allowed journalists to start working in Palmyra and its national museum.
The militants broke all pedestals and display cases and scattered pieces of statues across the floors. As a result of hostilities, the museum's roof was broken and a wall was severely damaged.
In the historic part of Palmyra, apart from the amphitheater and Roman-era columns, a monumental arch remained partly intact. Terrorists have destroyed everything that was connected with ancient religious cults, including the Temple of Bel and the Temple of Baalshamin.
Some artifacts had been removed by the Syrian army from Palmyra before the city was captured by jihadists.
The city of Palmyra and its historic ruins have been under Daesh control since May 2015. The jihadist group, which is outlawed in many countries, including Russia and the United States, has since destroyed part of the ruins, which are a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.
