IS destroying another ancient archaeological site in Iraq
BAGHDAD (AP) — Islamic State militants continued their campaign targeting cultural heritage sites in territories they control in northern Iraq, looting and damaging the ancient city of Hatra just one day after bulldozing the historic city of Nimrud, according to Iraqi government officials and local residents. The destruction in Hatra comes as the militant Islamic group fended off an Iraqi army offensive in Saddam Hussein's hometown and fought pitched battles in eastern Syria in an area populated by predominantly Christian villages.
Iraqi officials in the northern city of Mosul said Saturday that Islamic State militants have begun demolishing Hatra, a move UNESCO described as "cultural cleansing."
An official with the ministry of tourism and antiquities' archaeological division in Mosul told The Associated Press that multiple residents living near Hatra heard two large explosions Saturday morning, then reported seeing bulldozers begin demolishing the site. He spoke anonymously for fear of reprisal.
Saeed Mamuzini, a Kurdish official from Mosul, told the AP that the militants had begun carrying away artifacts from Hatra as early as Thursday and on Saturday, began to destroy the 2,000-year-old city.
"With this latest act of barbarism against Hatra, (the IS group) shows the contempt in which it holds the history and heritage of Arab people."
Meanwhile in Syria, Islamic State militants attacked a string of predominantly Christian villages on Saturday, touching off heavy clashes with Kurdish militiamen and their local allies, activists said.
The attack began around dawn and targeted at least three villages near the town of Tal Tamr along the Khabur River in Hassakeh province. The Islamic State group kidnapped more than 220 Assyrian Christians from the same area last month after overrunning several farming communities on the southern bank of the river.
The fighting Saturday was focused in villages on the northern bank of the river as the militants press to capture Tal Tamr, a strategic crossroads some 35 kilometers (20 miles) from the city of Hassakeh, said Osama Edwards, director of the Assyrian Network for Human Rights.
"The battles are now very intensive, very violent," said Edwards, who is based in Sweden. "Tal Tamr is the main goal of the Islamic State, to give them the corridor to the eastern border to Iraq."
The Islamic State group currently controls about a third of Iraq and Syria. The Sunni extremist group has been campaigning to purge ancient relics they say promote idolatry that violates their fundamentalist interpretation of Islamic law. A video they released last week shows them smashing artifacts in the Mosul museum and in January, the group burned hundreds of books from the Mosul library and Mosul University, including many rare manuscripts.
The majority of the artifacts destroyed in the Mosul Museum attack were from Hatra.
On Friday, the group looted artifacts from Nimrud, a 3,000-year-old city in Iraq, and bulldozed it in a move United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon declared "a war crime."
Iraqi Tourism and Antiquities Minister Adel Shirshab told the AP Saturday that many feared Hatra would suffer the same fate as Nimrud. "This is not unusual (behavior) for Daesh," Shirshab said, using the Arabic acronym for the group.
"These looted artifacts could be a main source of cash for the IS group which lacks cash," Habib added. "The money generated from such an operation will provide the militants with weapons and salaries."
Habib said the international community should regulate the illegal trade of precious antiquities on the black market in order to prevent the sale of Iraqi artifacts by the IS group.
Last year, the militants destroyed the mosque believed to be the burial place of the Prophet Younis, or Jonah, as well as the Mosque of the Prophet Jirjis — both revered ancient shrines in Mosul. They also threatened to destroy Mosul's 850-year old Crooked Minaret, but residents surrounded the structure, preventing the militants from approaching.
A U.S.-led coalition has been striking the Islamic State group since August and is preparing a large-scale operation to retake the city of Mosul. But U.S. and Iraqi officials have been cautious about setting a timeline for preparing Iraq's embattled military for the campaign.
Meanwhile a combined force of Iraqi government troops and Iranian-backed Shiite militias have begun a push to dislodge the Islamic State group from Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, about 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Baghdad.
U.S. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a current tour of the Middle East that he expected the Tikrit campaign to be successful. Dempsey was asked by reporters traveling with him overnight Friday from Washington to Bahrain whether he believes IS will be pushed out of Tikrit.
"Yeah, I do," he said. "The numbers are overwhelming."
Canada's defense department said Saturday that a Canadian special forces soldier was killed and three others wounded in a friendly fire incident in northern Iraq. Canadian troops training local forces had just returned to an observation post at the front line Friday when they were mistakenly fired upon by Kurdish fighters. The military identified the slain soldier as Sgt. Andrew Joseph Doiron.
The Pentagon also said Saturday that 19-year-old Lance Cpl. Sean P. Neal of Riverside, California is the second U.S. military death associated with the campaign against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. The Pentagon didn't providing more details and said it is investigating Neal's death.
--------------------
Associated Press writers Ryan Lucas in Beirut, Robert Burns in Manama, Bahrain, Robert Gillies in Toronto and Salar Salim in Irbil, Iraq contributed to this report.
An official with the ministry of tourism and antiquities' archaeological division in Mosul told The Associated Press that multiple residents living near Hatra heard two large explosions Saturday morning, then reported seeing bulldozers begin demolishing the site. He spoke anonymously for fear of reprisal.
Saeed Mamuzini, a Kurdish official from Mosul, told the AP that the militants had begun carrying away artifacts from Hatra as early as Thursday and on Saturday, began to destroy the 2,000-year-old city.
Hatra, located 110 kilometers (68 miles) southwest of the city of Mosul, was a large fortified city during the Parthian Empire and capital of the first Arab kingdom. A UNESCO world heritage site, Hatra is said to have withstood invasions by the Romans in A.D. 116 and 198 thanks to its high, thick walls reinforced by towers. The ancient trading center spanned 6 kilometers (4 miles) in circumference and was supported by more than 160 towers. At its heart are a series of temples with a grand temple at the center — a structure supported by columns that once rose to 100 feet.
"The destruction of Hatra marks a turning point in the appalling strategy of cultural cleansing underway in Iraq," said Irina Bokova, the director-general of UNESCO, and Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, director general of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) in a joint statement."With this latest act of barbarism against Hatra, (the IS group) shows the contempt in which it holds the history and heritage of Arab people."
Meanwhile in Syria, Islamic State militants attacked a string of predominantly Christian villages on Saturday, touching off heavy clashes with Kurdish militiamen and their local allies, activists said.
The attack began around dawn and targeted at least three villages near the town of Tal Tamr along the Khabur River in Hassakeh province. The Islamic State group kidnapped more than 220 Assyrian Christians from the same area last month after overrunning several farming communities on the southern bank of the river.
The fighting Saturday was focused in villages on the northern bank of the river as the militants press to capture Tal Tamr, a strategic crossroads some 35 kilometers (20 miles) from the city of Hassakeh, said Osama Edwards, director of the Assyrian Network for Human Rights.
"The battles are now very intensive, very violent," said Edwards, who is based in Sweden. "Tal Tamr is the main goal of the Islamic State, to give them the corridor to the eastern border to Iraq."
The Islamic State group currently controls about a third of Iraq and Syria. The Sunni extremist group has been campaigning to purge ancient relics they say promote idolatry that violates their fundamentalist interpretation of Islamic law. A video they released last week shows them smashing artifacts in the Mosul museum and in January, the group burned hundreds of books from the Mosul library and Mosul University, including many rare manuscripts.
The majority of the artifacts destroyed in the Mosul Museum attack were from Hatra.
On Friday, the group looted artifacts from Nimrud, a 3,000-year-old city in Iraq, and bulldozed it in a move United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon declared "a war crime."
Iraqi Tourism and Antiquities Minister Adel Shirshab told the AP Saturday that many feared Hatra would suffer the same fate as Nimrud. "This is not unusual (behavior) for Daesh," Shirshab said, using the Arabic acronym for the group.
A statement on the ministry's Facebook page Saturday said the government is investigating reports of the attack on Hatra, noting that the global community should hasten its response to the crisis in Iraq in order to prevent these types of atrocities.
Baghdad-based archaeology researcher Junaid Amer Habib said that the destruction of the archaeological sites and artifacts could be "a cover up operation" to disguise efforts to smuggle and sell precious antiquities."These looted artifacts could be a main source of cash for the IS group which lacks cash," Habib added. "The money generated from such an operation will provide the militants with weapons and salaries."
Habib said the international community should regulate the illegal trade of precious antiquities on the black market in order to prevent the sale of Iraqi artifacts by the IS group.
Last year, the militants destroyed the mosque believed to be the burial place of the Prophet Younis, or Jonah, as well as the Mosque of the Prophet Jirjis — both revered ancient shrines in Mosul. They also threatened to destroy Mosul's 850-year old Crooked Minaret, but residents surrounded the structure, preventing the militants from approaching.
A U.S.-led coalition has been striking the Islamic State group since August and is preparing a large-scale operation to retake the city of Mosul. But U.S. and Iraqi officials have been cautious about setting a timeline for preparing Iraq's embattled military for the campaign.
Meanwhile a combined force of Iraqi government troops and Iranian-backed Shiite militias have begun a push to dislodge the Islamic State group from Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, about 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Baghdad.
U.S. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a current tour of the Middle East that he expected the Tikrit campaign to be successful. Dempsey was asked by reporters traveling with him overnight Friday from Washington to Bahrain whether he believes IS will be pushed out of Tikrit.
"Yeah, I do," he said. "The numbers are overwhelming."
Canada's defense department said Saturday that a Canadian special forces soldier was killed and three others wounded in a friendly fire incident in northern Iraq. Canadian troops training local forces had just returned to an observation post at the front line Friday when they were mistakenly fired upon by Kurdish fighters. The military identified the slain soldier as Sgt. Andrew Joseph Doiron.
The Pentagon also said Saturday that 19-year-old Lance Cpl. Sean P. Neal of Riverside, California is the second U.S. military death associated with the campaign against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. The Pentagon didn't providing more details and said it is investigating Neal's death.
--------------------
Associated Press writers Ryan Lucas in Beirut, Robert Burns in Manama, Bahrain, Robert Gillies in Toronto and Salar Salim in Irbil, Iraq contributed to this report.
- Unrest, Conflicts & War
- Politics & Government
- northern Iraq
- Saddam Hussein
Click to view comments
Recommended for You
Man Taking Photo of His First Snowfall Shot Dead in Dallas
Authorities are investigating the death of Ahmed Al-Jumaili, 36, who was killed in the parking lot of an apartment complex late Wednesday night. The Dallas Police Department said that the shooting took place at 11:40 p.m., when Al-Jumaili and his wife were taking photos of the snow. The fundraising…ABC News- AdChoicesSymptomFindSponsored
Dental Implants: What You Should Know
Thinking of getting dental implants? There are critical things you should know before going under the knife for the perfect smile. Neighbor heard cries of baby who starved after mom died
MILLVALE, Pa. (AP) — A neighbor said he heard the cries of a 9-month-old boy who authorities believe later starved after his mother died of a possible overdose inside their Pittsburgh-area apartment.Associated PressLaser Weapon Stops Truck in Its Tracks — from a Mile Away
A laser weapon made by Lockheed Martin can stop a small truck dead in its tracks from more than a mile (1.6 kilometers) away, the company announced this week. The laser system, called ATHENA (short for Advanced Test High Energy Asset), is designed to protect military forces and key infrastructure,…LiveScience.comMassive octopus in Seattle nearly crawls out of aquarium display
A giant male octopus caught on cell phone video scaling his glass display tank at the Seattle Aquarium and reaching several tentacles over its open top has sparked Internet speculation that the massive mollusk was trying to mount an escape bid. "It was not an escape attempt," aquarium spokesman Tim…ReutersBoko Haram leader pledges allegiance to Islamic State group
The leader of Nigeria's Boko Haram militants, Abubakar Shekau, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group in an audio recording released Saturday. "We announce our allegiance to the Caliph of the Muslims, Ibrahim ibn Awad ibn Ibrahim al-Husseini al-Qurashi," said the voice on the message,…AFP- AdChoicesInstant CheckmateSponsored
Forget 'Googling' Your Name, This Site Has It All!
A new site has made it easy to find out the truth about the people you already know and people you meet! Simply type in a name and select a state! DNA clears Nevada woman imprisoned 35 years for murder
RENO, Nev. (AP) — After the case was dropped against a Nevada woman who spent 35 years in prison for a 1976 murder she did not commit, both sides agreed on one point: justice was finally served thanks to new technology in DNA testing.Associated PressMother, 2 kids fatally struck by semi in Back of the Yards
A 30-year-old woman and her two children have died after they were struck by a semi truck in the Back of the Yards neighborhood Friday evening.WLS – ChicagoNew concept in solar energy poised to catch on across US
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A new concept in renewable energy is catching fire across the country, allowing customers who might find solar panels too expensive or impractical to buy green energy anyway.Associated PressMexico's drug cartels adapt to US pot legalization
The growing legalization of cannabis in the United States is forcing Mexico's drug cartels to rethink their illicit business model, turning to opium poppy plantations and domestic pot consumption, experts say. The changes in the world's biggest drug market appear to have prompted the criminal…AFP- AdChoicesKelley Blue BookSponsored
10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000
Entry-priced new cars have never been so desirable! Can you guess which car made the number 1 spot on this year's list of coolest cars? Find out now! UCLA's Troubling Question for Jewish Students Everywhere
“Given that you are a woman and very active in the female community, how do you see yourself being able to maintain an unbiased view?”“Given that you are black and very active in the black community, how do you see yourself being able to maintain an unbiased view?”“Given that you are gay and very…The AtlanticIsrael fires at Gaza boats, kills Palestinian fisherman: hospital officials
The Israeli navy opened fire on boats off the coast of the Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing one Palestinian fisherman, Gaza hospital officials said. Citing security concerns, Israel keeps a naval blockade on Gaza, which is ruled by the Islamist Hamas movement, and has designated a six nautical-mile…Reuters4-year-old girl killed in Glendale hit-and-run
A 4-year-old girl was killed in a hit-and-run crash at Wilson Avenue and Olive Street in Glendale Friday night.KABC – Los AngelesRebel pageant: Ukrainian fighters trade in boots for heels
DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — Trading in their combat boots and fatigues for high heels and ball gowns, female rebel fighters who normally fight Ukrainian soldiers took Saturday off to take part in a beauty pageant.Associated Press- AdChoicesBrainjet.comSponsored
17 Terrifying Bridges You Wouldn't Want To Cross
If you don't consider yourself one of that crowd, then you might after seeing these terrifying bridges of the world! Albino killers sentenced to death in Tanzania
A court in Tanzania has sentenced four people to death for the murder of an albino woman who was killed so her hacked-off limbs could be used in magic, officials said Friday. The sentencing comes after Tanzania' President Jakaya Kikwete blasted the wave of killings of albinos, whose body parts are…AFPSyrian air strike kills two Islamic State commanders
The Syrian army has killed two Islamic State commanders in an air strike in central Syria along with at least 24 other members of the ultra-hardline group, a monitoring group said on Saturday. Syrian state media reported the death of one of the Islamic State commanders killed in the air strike. It…ReutersCops: Baby apparently starves after mom's suspected overdose
MILLVALE, Pa. (AP) — A 9-month-old boy found dead in a Pittsburgh-area apartment is believed to have starved after his mother died of an apparent overdose, leaving no one to care for him, authorities said Friday.Associated PressMountain lion shot with tranquilizer in California mall parking lot, dies
A mountain lion that wandered into a Southern California shopping mall parking lot on Friday was shot with a tranquilizer dart but died as state wildlife officers sought to transport it to the wilderness, authorities said. The incident marked the latest encounter between humans and mountain lions…Reuters- AdChoicesGlucocilSponsored
Natural Blood Sugar Solution Takes GNC by Storm
The simple solution for normal blood sugar. Try it now - safe, natural & effective. Vivienne Westwood keeps punking Paris Fashion Week
Punk is Vivienne Westwood's leitmotif, and the 73-year-old British fashion designer showed her radical roots are intact at her latest show at the Paris Fashion Week. To a screechingly loud live band in a tinsel-adorned commercial basement on Saturday with front-row celebrities Solange Knowles and…AFPPope helps shed light on notorious Italy murder
Pope Francis is breaking decades of Vatican silence to help Italy shed light on one of its most notorious crimes, the 1970's murder of former premier Aldo Moro, the Corriere della Sera daily said Saturday. Francis has given permission for Archbishop Antonio Mennini to be interviewed by a…AFPNew 325-foot-tall roller coaster can reach 95 miles per hour
A new roller coaster is opening soon, and it’s not for the faint of heart. The crazy cool Fury 325 coaster debuts on March 28 at Carowinds Park in Charlotte, North Carolina. But you don’t have to wait until then to take a ride: The park released this point-of-view test-run video on YouTube. Follow…Trending Now
What to read next
- Boko Haram leader pledges allegiance to Islamic State groupAFP
- Forget 'Googling' Your Name, This Site Has It All!SponsoredInstant Checkmate
- Egyptian strikes kill 25 militants in two days - sourcesReuters
- Man Taking Photo of His First Snowfall Shot Dead in DallasABC NewsTrending
- Police chief: Veteran officer shot unarmed 19-year-oldAssociated PressTrending
- Shocking Video Terrifying Educators EverywhereSponsoredBrain Hacks 101
- President Obama uses familiar rhetoric in his 'Bloody Sunday' speechYahoo NewsTrending
- DNA clears Nevada woman imprisoned 35 years for murderAssociated PressTrending
- Outrage: Extremists take ancient statues, damage Iraqi siteAssociated PressTrending
- How Seniors Are Staying Asleep All NightSponsoredPeak Life
- Baltimore TV station cuts to Traffic Jam Jimmy in McDonald’s drive-thruYahoo NewsTrending
- Ferguson grand juror pushes back in battle to discuss Darren Wilson caseYahoo NewsTrending
- New concept in solar energy poised to catch on across USAssociated PressTrending
- Illinois Drivers Are Very UpsetSponsoredComparisons.org
- Photos of the day - March 7, 2015Yahoo NewsPhotos
- In solidarity with Selma, hundreds cross Brooklyn BridgeYahoo NewsPhotos
- Selma marks 50th anniversary of march across the Edmund Pettus BridgeYahoo NewsPhotos
- Unique Method May Regrow Lost HairSponsoredHair Loss Protocol
- 50 years after "Bloody Sunday" at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, AlabamaYahoo NewsPhotos
- Cardinal Edward Egan, former archbishop of New York, dies at 82Yahoo NewsPhotos
- Actor Harrison Ford injured in California plane crashYahoo NewsPhotos
- 15 Nickelodeon Stars Then And NowSponsoredSuggest.com
- Photos of the day - March 5, 2015Yahoo NewsPhotos
- Behind-the-scene stories from 'We Are the World'
- Vintage baby names make big comeback
- 10 Tech-Savviest Cars Under $20,000SponsoredKelley Blue Book
- 10 best snacks for weight loss
- Convincing victory shows who East's elite are
- Common phrases parents should avoid using
- Best Laptops in 2015 :Yahoo Trending SearchSponsoredYahoo Search
- Sean Penn: 'No apologies' for green card joke
- 'Homeland' character no longer a CIA officer
- Celebs and their look-alike parentsPhotos
- 25 Most Perfectly Timed Photos EverSponsoredBrainjet.com
- Madonna Falls Hard Performing at Brit AwardsTV In No Time
- Behind The Veil on A Broad AbroadA Broad Abroad
- Senator Rand Paul slams Hillary Clinton in interview with Katie CouricKatie Couric News Video
- Here's Why You Should Stop Googling NamesSponsoredBeenVerified
- KG's Game IntroductionNBA.com
- Chateau de GudanesYahoo Acquired Video
- The Nasdaq's new record - embrace itYahoo Finance Video
- Stunning Home Décor Ideas & Big SavingsSponsoredJoss & Main
- Why Am I Sore 2 Days After A Workout?Yahoo Health
