The War to Save Syria’s History

Maamoun Abdulkarim works for Bashar al-Assad’s government, but he says he serves a much higher purpose — saving his country’s culture from anyone who threatens it.

BY THANASSIS CAMBANIS-OCTOBER 26, 2015

DAMASCUS, Syria — Antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim will sound the alarm to anyone who will listen. Palmyra, a symbol of Syria’s ancient culture, will be completely destroyed after six more months under Islamic State control, he warns. Bitter enemies like Bashar al-Assad and the Free Syrian Army can fight it out elsewhere, but Abdulkarim wants them to make an exception there, joining forces against the Islamic State to save what’s left of Queen Zenobia’s historical kingdom.

The War to Save Syria’s History by Thavam Ratna