Fears are growing for the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria, hailed as one of the Middle East’s most precious cultural treasures, amid reports that ISIL jihadist fanatics <br />have taken up positions nearby.<br /><br /> #Syria #WorldHeritage: We must save #Palmyra & prevent its destruction http://t.co/aqpgnPIaeR #Unite4Heritage pic.twitter.com/zRvxLrBRVR— UNESCO (@UNESCO) May 14, 2015<br /><br /> The UNESCO World Heritage site, known as the “pearl of the desert”, has already been damaged by fighting in Syria’s conflict. <br /><br /> Now the country’s antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim has warned that if the militant group seizes the city “they will destroy everything that exists there”.<br /><br /> Some are warning of impending ‘cultural cleansing’ and ‘a crime against civilisation’ at Palmyra, an oasis in the desert northeast of Damascus <br /><br /> Also concerned for the site as well as the local population, the head of the United Nations cultural arm has spoken out.<br /><br /> UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova said: “Our position is very
