Restoration of Palmyra to finish by 2016

The majority of restoration work on Palmyra is expected to be completed by the end of this year, according to Syria’s head of antiquities.

The location of Palmyra is of great strategic significance. It is in the east of Homs province, only 215 kilometers northeast of the national capital, Damascus, and at the south of ISIL’s self-proclaimed capital Raqqa.

Experts say most work is expected to be finished this year, except for the Bell and Baal Shamin temples. They were heavily damaged last year when Islamic state militants dynamited them.

Palmyra is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient world. UNESCO has described it as the crossroads of several civilizations.

The government is taking strong precautionary measures to protect the city from falling into the militants’ hands again. Russia has offered assistance for bomb disposal in the city.