ISIS terrorists left mined historical sites in Syrian Resafa

ISIS left mined numerous historical sites in the Syrian city of Resafa, a representative of the city’s administration said.

The terrorists left mined numerous historical sites in the Syrian city of Resafa, known in Byzantine times as Sergiopolis and located southwest of Raqqa, a representative of the city’s administration said.

“Only two weeks ago Resafa was under ISIS terrorists’ control, the Syrian government forces with the support of the Russian Air Force brought back to the world this ancient city, which is over 1,000 years old… The city’s gates, the citadel, the Basilica of St. Sergius… all these objects are mined,” Abdulah Vitar told reporters.

The official noted that the city was a center of the pilgrimage of the Raqqa province attended by tens of thousands of visitors before the war.

The danger of shelling the city still exists, since the line of contact of the Syrian army and the militants is still in 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from the city, but the official expressed hope that the demining operations would start soon and the archaeologists would be able to visit the city in winter.

Raqqa has remained under the control of ISIS since 2013, and is considered the de facto capital of the terrorist group. The operation to liberate the city was launched by the Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), supported by the US-led international coalition, in early June.

On July 4, the SDF forces breached the Old City wall in Raqqa, advancing into its most heavily fortified enclave and overcoming the defenses of the terrorists. A spokesman for the Syria’s Tomorrow Movement, a national opposition party, told Sputnik that the city would hopefully be completely liberated within three months.

Source: Sputnik