A Syrian regime MiG has bombed the Crac des Chevaliers,
damaging a tower of one of the best-preserved crusader castles
in existence.
Several videos posted
online Saturday showed at least one airstrike on Friday against the castle in
central Homs province, where fighting is raging between government troops and
rebel forces.
The footage shows a
huge blast, as a tower of the fortress, which is built on a hill, takes a
direct hit, sending a plume of smoke and dust into the sky.
A separate video filmed
inside the castle shows some of the damage caused by the airstrike, including a
gaping hole in the ceiling and a mound of debris and heavy stones under the
open roof.
Crac des Chevaliers
along with the adjoining Qal’at Salah ed-Din (Saladin Citadel), is considered a
crown jewel of the Middle East and one of the world’s best-preserved crusader
castles. Built by the Knights Hospitaller as one of a string of fortresses
during the crusades, Crac des Chevaliers was described by Lawrence of Arabia as
the “best-preserved and most wholly admirable castle in the world.”
Dominating their surrounding landscapes, the
two castles of Crac des Chevaliers and Qal'at Salah Ed-Din are outstanding
examples of fortified architecture relating to the Crusader period.
UNESCO
says their quality of construction and the survival of historical
stratigraphy demonstrate the interchange of defensive technology through
features of each phase of military occupation.
Strategically placed at
the entrance to the Homs Gap, the Crac des Chevaliers is about an hour’s drive
from Homs city.
“The very reason why
the castle was built, its vantage point, is the reason why it is again under
attack,” Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding,
tells The
Daily Telegraph.
“Nothing is sacred in
Syria, not mosques, churches or ancient sites. Arguably the Crac is the jewel
in the crown and is a vital ingredient in Syria’s economic future when it will
need to restart its valuable tourism industry.”
The fort was placed on
the UNESCO world heritage list in 2006, and is one of six designated sites in
Syria that as recently as 2010 helped attract 8.5 million visitors.
Among Syria’s other
UNESCO-listed world heritage sites, the Great Mosque of
Aleppo and the ancient Roman ruins of Palmyra have also been damaged
by the 28-month-old conflict.
One report from Palmyra
said soldiers were removing the stones from the ruins to build defenses.
Fighting has also
destroyed the ancient souk
of Aleppo and the 5,000-year-old Temple
of the Storm God beneath the city’s ramparts.
Rebel-held areas of
Homs city have been under intense assault from government forces since
June 28, and UN officials said in a joint statement on Friday that they
are "extremely alarmed by the escalating violence" in Homs and
Aleppo.
