Islamic State destroy 2,000-year-old Palmyra temple - The Islamic State militants destroyed the temple of Baalshamin at Palmyra in Syria, as said by government officials and activists.

In a statement issued by an activist and monitoring group in Britain, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that explosives in large quantity arranged around the temple were detonated by the militants of the Islamic State. The structure was badly damaged in the explosion, according to a government official.

The Temple of Baalshamin, dedicated to Phoenician god Baalshamin had been constructed over 2,000 years ago.

The activists' account was confirmed by Maamoun Abdul-Karim, who heads Syria's Directorate of Antiquities and Museums. However, both the accounts varied as to when the temple was damaged.

According to Syrian Observatory, the temple was destroyed last month, whereas Abdul-Karim said that the Islamic State fighters blasted it on Sunday.

Abdul-Karim said in a statement "I am seeing Palmyra being destroyed in front of my eyes. God help us in the days to come."

He further said "We have said repeatedly the next phase would be one of terrorizing people, and when they have time they will begin destroying temples".