Palmyra: See the Ancient Syrian City That Was Just Captured by ISIS

May 21, 2015 11:14 AM EDT

After months of fierce fighting, the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) captured the town of Palmyra northeast of Syria’s capital Damascus on Thursday, leaving the group in control of more than half of the country’s territory—and raising fears among experts that its fighters will begin smashing spectacular ancient sites.

A partial view of the ancient oasis city of Palmyra, Syria in 2014. — A partial view of the ancient oasis city of Palmyra, Syria in 2014, including The Arch of Triumph which was destroyed on Oct. 4, 2015.Joseph Eid—AFP/Getty Images

SYRIA-CONFLICT-ARCHAEOLOGY-PALMYRA-FILES — A partial view of the ancient oasis city of Palmyra, Syria in 2014.Joseph Eid—AFP/Getty Images

Carvings on a wall in the courtyard of the sanctuary of Baal in the ancient oasis city of Palmyra, Syria in 2014.Joseph Eid—AFP/Getty Images

The castle of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra on May 18, 2015, a day after ISIS militants fired rockets into the city and killing five people. — The castle of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra on May 18, 2015, a day after ISIS militants fired rockets into the city and killed five people.AFP/Getty Images

A general view of the old souk and the Victory gate is seen at the historical city of Palmyra in 2010.Omar Sanadi—Reuters

See the Ancient Syrian City of Palmyra That Was Just Captured by ISIS

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