Palmyra is a historic oasis city in central Syria, famed for its Roman colonnade, temples, and funerary towers. Once a major caravan hub, it became a major archaeological and tourist destination before the war. Occupation and deliberate destruction by extremist groups severely damaged monuments and the local economy, shifting Palmyra into a focus of international restoration debate.

Today Palmyra is in phases of assessment and limited conservation work; some archaeological restoration projects and museum rehabilitation planning have begun with international and local involvement. The modern town is slowly repopulating but still faces major infrastructure shortfalls, UXO/landmine risks, and needs large-scale funding and planning for full recovery.