ISIS Beheads Renowned Archaeologist in Palmyra: Reports

The Islamic State (ISIS) beheaded Khaled Asaad, the 82-year-old archeologist and head of Palmyra’s local antiquities, after taking him hostage in the UNESCO World Heritage Site earlier this month, reports the BBC.

Asaad, who worked in Palmyra for more than 50 years, was killed and hung up “from a column in Palmyra’s main square,” the BBC adds.

“The continued presence of these criminals in this city is a curse and bad omen on [Palmyra] and every column and every archaeological piece in it,” said Maamoun Abdulkarim, Syria’s director of antiquities.

ISIS captured Palmyra from Syrian government forces in May. Shortly after, the group executed at least 25 Syrian soldiers in the city’s historic amphitheater, a scene that was released on video in July.

Syrian Government Retakes Coastal Village: Monitor

Syrian government forces have recaptured key villages near the country’s coastline following advances by anti-Assad rebel groups in recent weeks.

Backed by pro-Assad militias, the Syrian army took control of four villages in Sahl al-Ghab, an area bordering the coastal Latakia area and a stronghold for the Syrian government, according to the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

“Syrian troops, backed by Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah and other pro-regime groups, retook control of four villages from the opposition fighters,” said Observatory head Rami Abdulrahman, as reported by Agence France-Press.

The number of casualties is still unclear, Abdulrahman added.

Yarmouk Camp Hit by Typhoid Outbreak

The Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk, situated in southern Damascus, has been hit by a typhoid outbreak, according to UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestine refugees.

Health conditions have declined rapidly in the camp since the Syrian government imposed a tight siege on residents in December 2012. Although the U.N. recently said the camp is no longer under siege, residents on the ground say the conditions have not improved.

In April, ISIS invaded the camp and captured over 90 percent of it. Though many of its fighters withdrew shortly after, locals have recently told Syria Deeply that ISIS maintains a presence in the camp along with the Syrian arm of al-Qaida, Jabhat al-Nusra.

UNRWA learned of at least six cases of typhoid when it gained its first access to Yarmouk in months, France 24 reports.

Recommended Reads:

• CNN: Racing to Save Syria’s History from Obliteration
• The Independent: Syria Civil War: Civilians Pay the Price for Those in the Provinces of Conflict’s Balance of Horror
• Al Jazeera America: Amid Regional Tectonic Shifts, New Push for Syria Peace Emerges
• The Daily Star: Diplomatic Efforts to Halt Syria Conflict

Photo by Associated Press: Palestinian refugee women sit on the floor of the Yarmouk camp in southern Damascus. On Wednesday, the U.N. confirmed a typhoid outbreak in the camp