A picture shows a broken plate bearing the name of Syriac Catholic Saint Elian, who lived in the fifth century AD, at his monastery in the town of al-Qaryatain, one of the last Islamic State (IS) group strongholds in central Syria, on April 4, 2016, after Syrian troops regained control of the town the previous day.
IS jihadists withdrew from the town a week after the Russian-backed army and allied militia scored a major victory in the ancient city of Palmyra, which is also located in the vast province of Homs. The recapture of Al-Qaryatain allows the army to secure its grip over Palmyra, where jihadists destroyed ancient temples during their 10-month rule and executed 280 people.



 / AFP / JOSEPH EID        (Photo credit should read JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images)