Ancient artifacts from Mosul Museum found in IS home

MOSUL, Iraq (Kurdistan24) – The Iraqi Ministry of Interior on Tuesday announced the seizure of artifacts belonging to the Mosul Museum found inside the house of Islamic State (IS) militants on the eastern side of the city.

In a statement, Brigadier General Saad Maan, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, said the “Directorate of Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism of Nineveh seized artifacts in the house of an IS member who fled the eastern side of the city.”

The objects, of different size and shape, belong to the Mosul Museum according to Maan

Over the past two years, the insurgents released footage and pictures of its members destroying priceless ancient Assyrian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Persian and Roman artifacts, reliefs and sites, drawing condemnation from experts around the world.

In later reports, it was discovered some antiquities were sold and trafficked by the militants.

Iraqi forces recaptured the museum from the extremists on the western side of Mosul in March, but the museum and its content suffered significant damage.

IS militants destroyed items left in the museum and part of the collection is still missing, assumed to be stolen or smuggled out of Iraq. 

The extremist group took over the museum in 2014 when it first emerged in Iraq. The Museum of Mosul was built in 1952 and housed over 2,000 artifacts.

After the successful campaign to liberate eastern Mosul ended in January, Iraqi security forces launched a fresh offensive to free the western parts of the city.

In late May, Iraqi troops began advancing on the remaining parts of western Mosul, IS’ last major stronghold in the country.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany