The Syrian army is unearthing a mass grave consisting of at least 40 corpses, many of them women and children, butchered by the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in the recently liberated ancient city of Palmyra.
The grave was discovered by engineers and “popular defense forces” in the Masakin al-Jahizia neighborhood in the city, which lies only 500 meters away from the ancient ruins, SANA reports.
Initially, the army has managed to pull 25 corpses out from the ground. Among those killed by IS were three children and five females. As the excavation proceeded, 15 more corpses were unearthed – all of them women and children.
كشف مقبرة جماعية في تدمر تضم جثث أطفال ونساءhttps://t.co/jfnNsOYlWO#سوريا pic.twitter.com/dh6JqibdMi
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Initial examination of the bodies revealed that some of the victims had been beheaded while other had been brutally tortured right before their death.
The army continues to excavate the mass grave, fearing that more bodies may be found.
