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Protecting Syria's history from war

 Syrian rebels have been fighting against the Syrian government for more than three years. It started in 2011. At that time, people in many Arab countries began to protest in the streets. They wanted honest government and more freedom. In Syria, President Bashar Assad used the military to stop the protests. Many people were killed and a civil war began. The war is still going on today. The rebels want Assad out. Important historical sites are being destroyed. There are six places in Syria that the United Nations has called especially important. They are known as World Heritage sites. Five of those have been damaged in the war, said a new report. Richard Leventhal runs the Cultural Heritage Center at the University of Pennsylvania. He works with Brian Daniels. Their group wrote the new report.  20 Syrians are trying "to save the family photos for the country,” he said. The report does not say which groups destroyed the sites. Daniels said both the rebels and the Syrian government are responsible the destruction.