According to Maamoun Abdulkarim, director of antiquities and museums at the Syrian Ministry of Culture, the Syrian Army positioned its troops in some archaeological-site areas, while Syrian opposition soldiers stationed themselves in gardens around the city.
Ifølge Maamoun Abdulkarim, direktør for antikke genstande og museer ved det syriske kulturministerium, havde den syriske hær placeret tropper i nogle af de arkæologiske fundsteder, mens de syriske oppositionsgrupper havde stationeret soldater i haver rundt om i byen.