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Mosul's Grand al-Nouri mosque 'blown up' by Isis fighters Mosul's Grand al-Nouri mosque 'blown up' by Isis fighters
(35 minutes later)
One of Islam’s most venerated sites, the Grand Nouri mosque in Mosul, has been destroyed by explosions as Iraqi forces battled Islamic State (Isis) militants who had holed up nearby. One of Islam’s most venerated sites, the Grand Nouri mosque in Mosul, has been destroyed by explosions as Iraqi forces battled Islamic State militants who had holed up nearby.
Iraq’s military blamed Isis for levelling the mosque, almost three years after its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had ascended a pulpit inside to proclaim himself leader of a new Islamic Caliphate.Iraq’s military blamed Isis for levelling the mosque, almost three years after its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had ascended a pulpit inside to proclaim himself leader of a new Islamic Caliphate.
“The Daesh (Islamic State) terror gangs committed another historical crime by blowing up the al-Nouri mosque and its historic al-Hadba minaret,” the Iraqi military statement said. “The Daesh [Islamic State] terror gangs committed another historical crime by blowing up the al-Nouri mosque and its historic al-Hadba minaret,” the Iraqi military statement said.
The terror group said US-led airstrikes had caused the damage.The terror group said US-led airstrikes had caused the damage.
Images that showing the mosque area and aerial photographs provided by the US military depicted scenes of widespread damage, with its renowned leaning minaret no longer standing and the compound largely in ruins.Images that showing the mosque area and aerial photographs provided by the US military depicted scenes of widespread damage, with its renowned leaning minaret no longer standing and the compound largely in ruins.
The US military denied it had carried out airstrikes in the area.The US military denied it had carried out airstrikes in the area.
The destruction came as Iraqi troops edged to within 50 metres of the mosque, in a densely packed neighbourhood of central western Mosul, more than eight months into the battle to free the city.The destruction came as Iraqi troops edged to within 50 metres of the mosque, in a densely packed neighbourhood of central western Mosul, more than eight months into the battle to free the city.
“As our Iraqi security force partners closed in on the al-Nouri mosque, Isis destroyed one of Mosul and Iraq’s great treasures,” said Maj Gen Joseph Martin, commanding general of the US-led coalition fighting Isis. “As our Iraqi security force [ISF] partners closed in on the al-Nouri mosque, Isis destroyed one of Mosul and Iraq’s great treasures,” said Maj Gen Joseph Martin, commanding general of the US-led coalition fighting Isis.
“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,” said Martin.“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,” said Martin.
“The responsibility of this devastation is laid firmly at the doorstep of Isis, and we continue to support our Iraqi partners as they bring these terrorists to justice. However, the battle for the liberation of Mosul is not yet complete, and we remain focused on supporting the ISF with that objective in mind.”“The responsibility of this devastation is laid firmly at the doorstep of Isis, and we continue to support our Iraqi partners as they bring these terrorists to justice. However, the battle for the liberation of Mosul is not yet complete, and we remain focused on supporting the ISF with that objective in mind.”
Isis had vowed to defend the place where it all began for them in July 2014 and had been fiercely staving off advancing forces since earlier this summer. Isis had vowed to defend the city that it took in July 2014 and had been fiercely resisting advancing forces since earlier this summer.
“They blew it up because they did not want the place they announced the caliphate from to be the place where the Iraqi military announces its victory over them,” said Hisham al-Hashimi, an author on extremist groups and former advisor to the government. “They blew it up because they did not want the place they announced the caliphate from to be the place where the Iraqi military announces its victory over them,” said Hisham al-Hashimi, an author on extremist groups and a former adviser to the government.
The loss of the site is another devastating blow to Iraq’s heritage, which has been ravaged by 14 years of war since the US-led invasion to oust Saddam Hussein. The militants’ control over northern Iraq has taken a particularly heavy toll, with globally significant archeological sites being ransacked and pillaged.The loss of the site is another devastating blow to Iraq’s heritage, which has been ravaged by 14 years of war since the US-led invasion to oust Saddam Hussein. The militants’ control over northern Iraq has taken a particularly heavy toll, with globally significant archeological sites being ransacked and pillaged.
The mosque was destroyed on the Night of Power, one of the holiest dates in the Islamic calendar, when the Qur’an was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad. It was built in the 12th-century by Noureddine al-Zanki, a famed Muslim commander and a contemporary of Saladin, whose family ruled the provinces of Aleppo and Mosul on behalf of the Abbasid caliph in Baghdad. The mosque was destroyed on the Night of Power, one of the holiest dates in the Islamic calendar, when the Qur’an was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad. It was built in the 12th century by Noureddine al-Zanki, a famed Muslim commander and a contemporary of Saladin, whose family ruled the provinces of Aleppo and Mosul on behalf of the Abbasid caliph in Baghdad.
Al-Nouri was one of the great monuments in Islam after the grand mosques of Mecca and Medina, al-Aqsa in Jerusalem and the Umayyad mosque in Damascus, rivalling others like the Amr ibn al-’As mosque in Egypt and other more modern structures built in recent centuries.Al-Nouri was one of the great monuments in Islam after the grand mosques of Mecca and Medina, al-Aqsa in Jerusalem and the Umayyad mosque in Damascus, rivalling others like the Amr ibn al-’As mosque in Egypt and other more modern structures built in recent centuries.
Iraqi officials had privately expressed hopes that the mosque could be captured in time for Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramadan, which falls this year on 25 June in Iraq. Iraqi officials had privately expressed hopes that the mosque could be captured in time for Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramadan, which this year is on 25 June in Iraq. The fall of Mosul would, in effect, mark the end of the Iraqi portion of the “caliphate” even though Isis would continue to control territory west and south of the city.
The fall of Mosul would, in effect, mark the end of the Iraqi portion of the “caliphate” even though Isis would continue to control territory west and south of the city.
Baghdadi has left the fighting in Mosul to local commanders and is believed to be hiding in the border area between Iraq and Syria, according to US and Iraqi military sources.Baghdadi has left the fighting in Mosul to local commanders and is believed to be hiding in the border area between Iraq and Syria, according to US and Iraqi military sources.