Islamic State militants in Syria have blown up another historic monument in the ancient city of Palmyra.
The Arch of Triumph among the Roman ruins of Palmyra before it was destroyed Photo: AFP
Syria's antiquities director says the Arch of Triumph has been destroyed after being booby-trapped several weeks ago.
The Arch of Triumph, a jewel in the exquisite collection of ruins in the oasis city, was situated at the entrance to the city's ancient Roman-Greco ruins.
Since over-running the city in May, the militants have also destroyed the shrine of Baal Shamin and the 2,000-year-old Temple of Bel, one of the best preserved Roman-era sites.
Earlier this month it was also confirmed the militants had destroyed some of the best preserved of Palmyra's funeral towers, sandstone constructions built to hold the remains of the ancient city's richest families.
Other monuments in the city have reportedly been booby-trapped and local historians fear Islamic State will eventually raze all the ruins.
Islamic State militants have blown up temples at the Roman-era UNESCO World Heritage site, which it has controlled since capturing Palmyra from Syrian government forces in May and mined other monuments and historic buildings. The group considers the buildings sacrilegious.
Syria's antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim called it "wanton destruction".
"It's as though there is a curse that has befallen this city and I expect only news that will shock us. If the city remains in their hands the city is doomed," Abdulkarim said.
"Their acts of vengeance are no longer ideologically driven because they are now blowing up buildings with no religious meaning," he added.
Palmyra was one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world, according to cultural agency UNESCO, which has described it as the crossroads of several civilisations.
Islamic State has declared a caliphate in territory it holds across Syria and Iraq and has destroyed other monuments it says are pagan and sacrilegious.
UNESCO has called such acts war crimes and says Islamic State seeks to wipe out evidence of Syria's diverse heritage.
Before the capture of the city, Syrian officials said they had moved hundreds of ancient statues to safe locations.