Islamic State detonates prisoners tied to ancient columns in Palmyra, Syria

PALMYRA, Syria, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- The Islamic State detonated explosives on three prisoners strapped to columns in the ancient ruins of Palmyra, Syria, according to activists.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group monitoring the war in Syria, reports the identities of the prisoners are not known but notes it is the first time IS militants have used such a method to execute detainees.

IS forces captured the ruins in May along with the adjacent city of Tadmur, and since then the militants have destroyed several temples, tombs, towers and arches at the site, which dates back thousands of years.

IS has also destroyed multiple ancient sites in Iraq, saying the artifacts represent "idolatry," but officials say the group also sells such items on the black market to fund operations.

Shortly after IS forces seized Palmyra in May they reportedly executed at least 150 regime troops and more than 60 civilians in the ruins. In July, the militants released a video depicting teenage radicals using pistols to execute 25 Syrian soldiers in the city's historic amphitheater.

In August, IS publicly beheaded 82-year-old Khalid al-Asaad, a renowned scholar of antiquities who had worked as the director general of the Palmyra Directorate of Antiquities and Museums for over 50 years. Asaad had reportedly refused to reveal the location of various artifacts sought by IS.

SOHR reports IS has been experimenting with new ways to execute prisoners in recent months, including driving a tank over a Syrian soldier who the militants allege did the same to dead IS fighters. IS has also reportedly killed detainees after forcing them to dig graves with their own hands.

On Tuesday warplanes bombed portions of Palmyra, SOHR reports, noting the Syrian military also conducted airstrikes in the vicinity of the ruins. The activist group did not clarify which country the warplanes came from, but Russia has since Sept. 30 conducted airstrikes on behalf of its regional ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.