Residents of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra began returning to their homes after years of displacement caused by the civil war and the occupation by the Islamic State organization. The city, known as the Bride of the Desert, is witnessing a tentative revival as families revisit the ruins and attempt to rebuild their lives, according to France 24.
"We have missed the ancient sites a lot. We hadn't come here since 2015, when the jihadists of the Islamic State took over the place," said 54-year-old resident Yasser Al-Mahmoud, according to France 24. Returning with his family last month, he resumed his old habit of visiting the ruins of Palmyra, which are listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Palmyra, situated in the heart of the Syrian desert, reached its peak of prosperity in the 3rd century under Queen Zenobia, who challenged the Roman Empire. The archaeological site includes more than a thousand columns, statues, temples, ornate tower tombs, a theater, and a courtyard. However, the city's landmarks have been greatly damaged due to targeting and neglect during the years of civil war.
During the Syrian conflict that began in 2011 with protests against President Bashar al-Assad's rule, the Islamic State organization seized control of Palmyra in May 2015. The extremists launched a campaign of destruction, blowing up some of the most important structures of the Palmyra site, including the 2,000-year-old Temple of Bel and the Temple of Baalshamin. They also destroyed several tower tombs and turned the famous Arch of Triumph into rubble, causing irreplaceable losses to Syrian heritage.
After days of their control, the Islamic State militants executed the former director of museums in the city, Khaled Al-Asaad, by beheading him and hanging him on an electric pole in the city square. Syrian forces regained control of Palmyra after a year, but the Islamic State reoccupied it at the end of 2016 and lost it again in March 2017.
The city's modern residential neighborhoods, which once housed luxury hotels, restaurants, and about 100,000 inhabitants, are even more devastated than the ancient sites, according to France 24. Before the war, Palmyra was a prominent tourist destination, attracting more than 150,000 tourists annually to enjoy its ruins that date back over 2,000 years.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq