MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The ISIL jihadist group seized full control of Palmyra, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on Wednesday after nearly two weeks of heavy fighting. According to various reports, the militants have executed up to 400 Syrian army servicemen and civilians, including women and children.
"We strongly condemn the atrocities committed by armed extremists in Palmyra," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry stressed that the advance of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq poses a major threat on a global scale.
"In this respect, we call again on all international and regional players to abandon the practice of using double-standard approaches in the fight against terrorism, and seek effective cooperation with governments of Middle East states, which counter directly the ISIL offensive," the statement said.