ISIL ATTACKS IRAQI ANCIENT SITE OF KHORSABAD: OFFICIAL

Khorsabad, 18 Jumadil Awwal 1436/9 March 2015 (MINA)–  The ISIL group have demolished and looted artifacts at the ancient archeological site of Khorsabad in northern Iraq, an official says.

The militants razed ancient ruins in the site on Sunday, Jumaa Abdullah, an official in the Antiquities Authority of the northern province of Nineveh, told German news agency DPA.

The ISIL “had stolen most antiquities of the site and blown up some others,” Abdullah said, citing reports by Khorsabad residents, Press TV by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Situated 15 kilometers (9 miles) northeast of the Iraqi city of Mosul, Khorsabad was constructed as an Assyrian capital by King Sargon II shortly after he took power in 721 B.C.

On Sunday, Adel Fahd al-Shershab, Iraq’s tourism and antiquities minister, also announced that the government is investigating reports of the terrorists’ attack on the ancient sit.

He further called on the US-led coalition, which is purportedly fighting the ISIL, to provide increased aerial support to save world heritage sites against destruction at the hands of the militants.

“The international community’s slow action for protecting the Iraqi antiquities has sent a message, which has encouraged terrorists to commit more crimes,” he added.

The remarks come as the ISIL terrorists recently damaged two UNESCO world heritage sites of Nimrud and Hatra, both located in northern Iraq.

The extremists currently control parts of Syria and Iraq. They have carried out heinous crimes in the two countries, including mass executions and the beheading of people.

The Western states, including Britain, and their allies have long supported the groups operating against the government in Syria over the past few years. (T/P010/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)