Syria says Islamic State kills hundreds, including children, in Palmyra

Islamic State fighters have killed at least 400 people, including women and children, in Palmyra since capturing the ancient Syrian city four days ago, Syrian state media said on Sunday. It was not immediately possible to verify the account, but it was consistent with reports by activists that the Islamist fighters had carried out extra-judicial executions since capturing the city from government troops. The Sunni Muslim militants seized the city of 50,000 people, site of some of the world’s most extensive and best preserved ancient Roman ruins, on Wednesday, days after also capturing Ramadi in Iraq.

The terrorists have killed more than 400 people including women and children.. and mutilated their bodies, under the pretext that they cooperated with the government and did not follow orders.

Syria’s state news agency, citing residents inside the city.

The two near-simultaneous victories were Islamic State’s biggest successes since a U.S.-led coalition began an air war against its fighters last year, and have forced an examination of whether the strategy is working. The militants have proclaimed a caliphate to rule over all Muslims from territory they hold in both Syria and Iraq. They have a history of carrying out mass killings in towns and cities they capture, and of destroying ancient monuments which they consider evidence of paganism.

Today’s advance will speed up the clock for a major advance to regain control of Ramadi.

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