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The Syrian American Council (SAC), America's largest and oldest grassroots Syrian American organization, calls upon the United States led coalition to carry out immediate airstrikes against ISIS forces who have begun an invasion into the historic city of Palmyra in central Syria, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its ancient 2000 year old Roman ruins.
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ISIS militants entered the city last week, and just yesterday seized the al-Hail and Arak gas fields, two very important parts of fueling Syria's electricity grid. If immediate action is not taken against ISIS forces outside the city in coming days, Palmyra is likely to fall. An ISIS takeover of Palmyra would subject hundreds of ancient artifacts to risk of theft or destruction. ISIS trades in looted artifacts to finance its operations.
"The fall of Palmyra would be a devastating loss for the world and for civilization," said Mirna Barq, President of the Syrian American Council. "If we do not act now to strike ISIS, historic artifacts thousands of years old will be at risk" she added.
According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Palmyra has sustained significant damage from the Assad regime throughout 2013 through both shelling and the positioning of military assets on the site. The Assad regime continues to position its military assets near these historic sites placing them at immense risk.