ISIS slaughters 400 mostly women and children in ancient Syria city of Palmyra where hundreds of bodies line the street

   

By Kate Pickles

State TV reporting victims are believed to be government loyalists

Follows execution of 300 pro-government soldiers in historic settlement 

Jihadi fighters previously warned residents against sheltering troops

Black ISIS flag hoisted over an ancient citadel after taking over city

 

Islamic State militants have executed at least 400 mostly women and children in Syria's ancient city of Palmyra.

Eye-witnesses have reported the streets are strewn with bodies – the latest victims of the Islamic State's unrelenting savagery - on the same day photographs of captured Syrian soldiers have emerged. 

It follows the killing of nearly 300 pro-government troops two days after they captured the city, now symbolised by a black ISIS flag flying above an ancient citadel.

ISIS has also strengthened its position in neighbouring Iraq with Jihadi fighters killing more than 500 people when they captured the city of Ramadi, last week.

Syrian state television announced the most recent massacre, quoting residents inside the city, which is known as Tadmur in Arabic.

'The terrorists have killed more than 400 people.. and mutilated their bodies, under the pretext that they cooperated with the government and did not follow orders,' Syria's state news agency said. 

It added that dozens of those killed were state employees, including the head of nursing department at the hospital and all her family members. 

Harrowing pictures have also emerged of Syrian army troops captured during the fierce fighting as the city fell. The 20 soldiers, in military clothing, look disheveled as they kneel before cameras.

Officials say the Syrian army is deploying troops in areas near to the ancient town in apparent preparation for a counter-attack to retake the city from the Islamic State group.