Battle for Mosul: Ancient mosque ‘al-Nuri’ destroyed by IS

Haider al-Abadi the Iraqi Prime Minister has said that the destruction of an ancient mosque ‘al-Nuri’ in the city of Mosul is “an official declaration of defeat” by the so-called Islamic State (IS).

According to the Iraqi forces, IS had blown up the Great Mosque of al-Nuri and its famous leaning minaret as jihadists tried to stop the advancing pro-government troops.

On the other hand IS has said that American aircraft had destroyed the complex, US has denied the claim.

The aerial photographs of the mosque, shows its complete destruction.

The 800 years old mosque, was the place where in July 2014 IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi commanded allegiance in his first and only public appearance following IS’ declaration days earlier of a “caliphate“.

Destruction of the mosque has brought wide condemnation.

Senior commander of the US in Iraq has said that IS has destroyed “one of Mosul and Iraq’s great treasures.”

Maj Gen Joseph Martin said “This is a crime against the people of Mosul and all of Iraq, and is an example of why this brutal organisation must be annihilated.”

The Iraqi commander who was in charge of the offensive to retake Mosul said that his troops were within 50m (160ft) of the mosque when IS “committed another historical crime.”

The initiative to retake the city had been launched on 17^th October 2016, and thousands of Iraqi security forces, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Sunni Arab tribesmen along with Shia militiamen, supported by US-led coalition warplanes and military advisers, have been involved in the battle to retake the key city.

In January, the Eastern Mosul had been declared fully “liberated” by the government however the west of the city has presented a more difficult challenge, with its narrow, winding streets.

Iraqi forces. on Tuesday 21^st June 2017 said that they were releasing civilians who were previously trapped under IS control in the Old City.

A military official in statement to state-run Iraqia TV had said: “We have broken the siege of IS and allowed the civilians to leave. This is evidence that IS has lost control.”

The destroyed mosque name al-Nuri dated back to 1172 and was named after a noble who fought against the early crusaders.

The minaret which was leaning had been nicknamed “the hunchback.”

A month after IS forces overran Mosul in June 2014, Baghdadi gave a Friday sermon from the pulpit inside the mosque and spoke about the newly proclaimed caliphate a state governed in accordance with Islamic law, or Sharia, by God’s deputy on Earth, or caliph.

Commanders in Iraq, on Sunday, 18^th June 2017, announced the start of the “final chapter” of the offensive, in which Iraq’s counter terrorism service, army and federal police will attack the Old City from all directions.

According to the army it believed only 300 militants were left in Mosul, which is a stark comparison to the estimated 6,000 at the start of the offensive in October.

Earlier this week aircraft dropped leaflets urging civilians to avoid open spaces and to take any opportunity to escape.

The UN has warned that IS may be holding more than 100,000 people in Mosul as human shields.

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