Six Ancient Sites in Syria Added to Endangered World Heritage List

Castles and ancient villages among those sites at risk from ongoing civil war

Six ancient sites in Syria, including the city of Aleppo which has suffered considerable damage in the course of the country's ongoing conflict, have been added to the endangered World Heritage list, UNESCO says.

The other sites to be added are the ancient cities of Damascus and Bosra, the oasis of Palmyra, the castles of Crac des Chevaliers and Qal'at Salah El-Din - also known as the Fortress of Saladin -  and the ancient villages of northern Syria.

"Due to the armed conflict situation in Syria, the conditions are no longer present to ensure the conservation and protection of the Outstanding Universal Value of the six World Heritage properties," a UNESCO document said.