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En images Palmyre, joyau du désert syrien menacé par l'Etat islamique

Article rédigé par Nicolas Enault
France Télévisions
Publié Mis à jour
Temps de lecture : 1min

Les ruines monumentales de la cité antique de Palmyre sont le théâtre d'âpres combats entre les forces de l'armée syrienne de Bachar Al-Assad et les combattants du groupe Etat islamique.

Le site historique de Palmyre, au beau milieu du désert syrien, va-t-il bientôt être rayé de la carte ? Depuis plusieurs jours, la cité antique et ses ruines monumentales, qui figurent au patrimoine mondial en péril de l'Unesco, sont le théâtre de violents combats entre les forces armées de Bachar Al-Assad et les combattants de l'Etat islamique. 

Après avoir pris le contrôle de plusieurs secteurs dans le nord de la ville de Palmyre, samedi 16 mai, les jihadistes ont finalement reculé en périphérie, dimanche, après un assaut mené par les forces du régime. Mais la cité demeure plus que jamais menacée. Outre le fait qu'elle constitue l'un des plus beaux vestiges de l'Antiquité, la ville revêt en effet une importance stratégique. Elle pourrait contribuer à l'ouverture de la route de Damas, et créer un nouvel accès au grand désert syrien, limitrophe de la province irakienne d'Al-Anbar, déjà largement contrôlée par les militants de l'Etat islamique.

  (NICOLAS ENAULT / FRANCETV INFO)
Ruins in the Syrian desert in the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria, 03 June 2009. The partly well-preserved structures, which have been declared a UNESCO World Hertiage Site, are in danger of being destroyed by extremists from the terror group Islamic State. Tourists from all over the world visited the sites up until the start of the civil war. Photo: CHRIS MELZER/dpa (MaxPPP TagID: dpaphotostwo351176.jpg) (MAXPPP)
he Tetrapylon (Monumental Entrance). Reconstructed after 1963 by the Directorate of Antiquities of Syria. Four "podia" were built under a square foundation, each supporting four columns originally made of pink granite. Each construction contained a statue. View with the Great Colonnade in the distance. Palmyra. Syria Picture by Manuel Cohen (MANUEL COHEN / AFP )
Image #: 15928378 (111109) -- DAMASCUS, Nov. 9, 2011 (Xinhua) -- Visitors view the temple of Bel at the Site of Palmyra, 215 km northeast of Damascus, capital of Syria, Nov. 9, 2011. As a famous city in the ancient Silk Road, Palmyra used to be a trade center linking the East and the West. Palmyra's prosperity kept for more than 300 years, crowning itself as the Bride of the Desert. The Site of Palmyra, which covers an area of six square kilometers, was listed as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1980. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) XINHUA /LANDOV ********************************* FRANCE ONLY (MaxPPP TagID: maxpeoplefrtwo952890.jpg) [Photo via MaxPPP] (MAXPPP)
The amphitheater in the Syrian desert in the anceint city of Palmyra, Syria, 03 June 2009. The partly well-preserved structures, which have been declared a UNESCO World Hertiage Site, are in danger of being destroyed by extremists from the terror group Islamic State. Tourists from all over the world visited the sites up until the start of the civil war. Photo: CHRIS MELZER/dpa (MaxPPP TagID: dpaphotostwo351178.jpg) [Photo via MaxPPP] (CHRIS MELZER / DPA)
Ancient theatre, Palmyra, Syria (MAXPPP)
Funerary tower-tomb interior with loculi shelves for bodies, family portraits on ceiling tiles and bust statue, Valley of Tombs, late 3rd century, AD, Palmyra, Syria Picture by Manuel Cohen (MANUEL COHEN / AFP )
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ben Alcraft / Rex Features ( 929936u ) The ancient oasis city of Palmyra, Syria Syria - Mar 2009 /Rex_BITS275_929936u//0907171639 (BEN ALCRAFT / SIPA)
Tower-tombs of Lamliku, Valley of Tombs, late 3rd century AD, Palmyra, Syria Picture by Manuel Cohen (MANUEL COHEN / AFP )
Sarcophagus carved with medallion bust portraits, Valley of Tombs, late 3rd century AD, Palmyra, Syria Picture by Manuel Cohen (MANUEL COHEN / AFP )
Funerary relief depicting a reclining man, Valley of Tombs, late 3rd century AD, Palmyra, Syria Picture by Manuel Cohen copyright : (MANUEL COHEN / AFP )
A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows a partial view of the ancient oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus. Syrian regime troops pushed Islamic State group jihadists back from the ancient desert city of Palmyra after clashes that left dozens dead in the city's north. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH (JOSEPH EID / AFP)
Sunset over the ruins in the Syrian desert in the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria, 03 June 2009. The partly well-preserved structures, which have been declared a UNESCO World Hertiage Site, are in danger of being destroyed by extremists from the terror group Islamic State. Tourists from all over the world visited the sites up until the start of the civil war. Photo: CHRIS MELZER/dpa (CHRIS MELZER / DPA)

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