DHAKA: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have shot dead at least 20 men in the ruins of Syria’s ancient city of Palmyra.

Head of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Rami Abdel Rahman has said this accusing them of fighting for the government, reports the Aljazeera.

“IS executed 20 men by firing on them in front of a crowd gathered in Palmyra's Roman theatre, after accusing them of fighting for the Syrian regime”, he added.

ISIL have carried out a string of atrocities, including videotaped beheadings and mass killings, rape and enslavement in areas it controls in Syria and neighboring Iraq.

ISIL seized Palmyra, known as Tadmur in Arabic, including its UNESCO world heritage site, on May 21, after a bloody assault that lasted nine days.

The UK-based observatory said ISIL had since executed at least 217 people, including 67 civilians, in and around the city.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini warned last Thursday of potential war crimes in Palmyra.

BDST: 1423 HRS, MAY 28, 2015
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