Discovery of Bombs Left by ISIS in the Walls of the Historic Mosul Mosque

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced the discovery of five bombs embedded in the walls of the historic 'Nuri' Mosque in Mosul during its restoration. The Nuri Mosque, built in the 12th century, was renowned for its outstanding architecture and its leaning minaret. This historical site was destroyed by ISIS in July 2017, and UNESCO took on its restoration four years later. On Saturday, July 9, the UN cultural agency issued a statement revealing that five bombs with extensive destructive power were discovered in the wall of the mosque's prayer hall last Tuesday. The statement adds that the explosive devices were placed in part of a wall that ISIS itself constructed for the mosque. One of the bombs embedded by ISIS in the wall of the Nuri Mosque has been defused by the Iraqi army, but UNESCO states that the other four bombs are interconnected, and defusing them will take time. Iraqi officials have requested that the UN cultural agency halt the restoration operations of the Nuri Mosque until all explosive materials are cleared and the area is evacuated. The Prime Minister of Iraq announced a 'complete victory' over ISIS in the city of Mosul. The extremist group known as ISIS, led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared its existence in Iraq exactly a decade ago on June 29, 2014. An international coalition led by the United States defeated ISIS in 2017 after three years of fighting. The discovery of bombs left over from the ISIS regime in parts of Iraq, especially in residential areas of Mosul, highlights the security challenges in the region. International organizations, with the support of the UN, are focusing on demining and rebuilding the city of Mosul. Despite years of efforts, much of the old part of Mosul remains in ruins and is marked with warning signs of landmine explosion risks. UNESCO has added in its statement that it intends to complete the full restoration of the Nuri Mosque by December, ultimately 'erasing the stigma of ISIS occupation.' Despite the defeat of ISIS, this extremist group continues to recruit and occasionally carry out terrorist attacks in Syria and Iraq.