AFP EXCLUSIVE A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows damage at the Sham Zenobia Palace Hotel which is situated opposite the ruins of the ancient city of Palmyra (background), 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus. The United Nations appealed to warring factions in Syria's bloody civil war to protect the country's cultural heritage, warning of widespread looting and damage at historical sites caught up in the conflict. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID

AFP EXCLUSIVE Syrian policemen walk inside the ransacked Sham Zenobia Palace Hotel which is situated opposite the ruins of the ancient city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus on March 14, 2014. The United Nations appealed to warring factions in Syria's bloody civil war to protect the country's cultural heritage, warning of widespread looting and damage at historical sites caught up in the conflict. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID

AFP EXCLUSIVE A picture taken on March 14, 2014 from inside the ransacked Sham Zenobia Palace Hotel shows the view through the window of the ruins of the ancient city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus. The United Nations appealed to warring factions in Syria's bloody civil war to protect the country's cultural heritage, warning of widespread looting and damage at historical sites caught up in the conflict. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID

AFP EXCLUSIVE A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows the burnt out interior of the Sham Zenobia Palace Hotel which is situated opposite the ruins of the ancient city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus. The United Nations appealed to warring factions in Syria's bloody civil war to protect the country's cultural heritage, warning of widespread looting and damage at historical sites caught up in the conflict. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID

AFP EXCLUSIVE Syrian policemen walk inside the ransacked Sham Zenobia Palace Hotel which is situated opposite the ruins of the ancient city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus on March 14, 2014. The United Nations appealed to warring factions in Syria's bloody civil war to protect the country's cultural heritage, warning of widespread looting and damage at historical sites caught up in the conflict. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID

TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY SAMMY KETZ A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows a partial view of the ancient oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus. Syria's fabled desert Greco-Roman oasis of Palmyra saw its last tourist in September 2011, six months after the uprising began. Its most recent visitors are violence and looting. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID

TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY SAMMY KETZ A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows a general view of the ancient oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus. Syria's fabled desert Greco-Roman oasis of Palmyra saw its last tourist in September 2011, six months after the uprising began. Its most recent visitors are violence and looting. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID

TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY SAMMY KETZ A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows damage caused by shelling on a wall in the ancient oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus. Syria's fabled desert Greco-Roman oasis of Palmyra saw its last tourist in September 2011, six months after the uprising began. Its most recent visitors are violence and looting. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID

TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY SAMMY KETZ A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows the external courtyard of the sanctuary of Baal in the ancient oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus. Syria's fabled desert Greco-Roman oasis of Palmyra saw its last tourist in September 2011, six months after the uprising began. Its most recent visitors are violence and looting. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID

TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY SAMMY KETZ A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows a sculpture depicting a princess from the ancient Syrian oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus, displayed at the city's museum. Syria's fabled desert Greco-Roman oasis of Palmyra saw its last tourist in September 2011, six months after the uprising began. Its most recent visitors are violence and looting. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID

TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY SAMMY KETZ A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows a sculpture found in the ancient Syrian oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus, and now displayed at the city's museum. Syria's fabled desert Greco-Roman oasis of Palmyra saw its last tourist in September 2011, six months after the uprising began. Its most recent visitors are violence and looting. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID

TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY SAMMY KETZ A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows a sculpture found in the ancient Syrian oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus, and now displayed at the city's museum. Syria's fabled desert Greco-Roman oasis of Palmyra saw its last tourist in September 2011, six months after the uprising began. Its most recent visitors are violence and looting. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID

A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows damage caused by shelling on a wall in the ancient oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus. From the 1st to the 2nd century, the art and architecture of Palmyra, standing at the crossroads of several civilizations, married Graeco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian influences. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID

A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows columns in the courtyard of the temple of Baal at the ancient city of Palmyra on March 14, 2014, damaged by artillary shelling in the ancient oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus. From the 1st to the 2nd century, the art and architecture of Palmyra, standing at the crossroads of several civilizations, married Graeco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian influences. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID

A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows columns in the courtyard of the temple of Baal at the ancient city of Palmyra on March 14, 2014, damaged by artillary shelling in the ancient oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus. From the 1st to the 2nd century, the art and architecture of Palmyra, standing at the crossroads of several civilizations, married Graeco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian influences. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID

A picture taken on March 14, 2014 shows columns in the courtyard of the temple of Baal at the ancient city of Palmyra on March 14, 2014, damaged by artillary shelling in the ancient oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus. From the 1st to the 2nd century, the art and architecture of Palmyra, standing at the crossroads of several civilizations, married Graeco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian influences. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID