ISIS militants behead 82-year-old Palmyra antiquities director Khaled Asaad after month-long detention

Islamic State militants publicly executed Khaled Asaad, the 82-year-old director of antiquities for the Syrian city of Palmyra, following more than a month of detention and interrogation. Asaad had dedicated over five decades to archaeological work at Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its monumental Roman-era ruins. Before ISIS captured Palmyra in May 2015, Syrian officials reportedly relocated hundreds of ancient statues to secure locations. The militant group, notorious for destroying artifacts they deem pagan in Nimrud and Mosul, has not yet damaged Palmyra's ancient structures. The Guardian reported the execution, which occurred in the ancient city itself.