Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi stated on Thursday, June 21, that the destruction of the historic mosque in Mosul by the Islamic State (ISIS) is a sign of the group's defeat. In a tweet, al-Abadi wrote: "The blowing up of the al-Hadba minaret and the al-Nuri mosque by ISIS is an official statement of their defeat." ISIS militants detonated the 800-year-old al-Hadba minaret and the al-Nuri mosque in Mosul on Wednesday, just before Iraqi military forces were set to take control of the mosque. The Iraqi army stated that the mosque and its leaning minaret were blown up when Iraqi forces were just 50 meters away. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, declared his self-proclaimed caliphate in this mosque three years ago. In recent weeks, the Iraqi army has recaptured several neighborhoods in the western part of Mosul from ISIS and intensified its pressure on the militants who were holed up in a small but densely populated area. The order to build the al-Nuri mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Mosul, was issued by Nur al-Din Zangi, a Sunni ruler of Syria. The ISIS-affiliated Amaq news agency accused the U.S.-led military coalition of bombing the mosque, but the coalition denied the group's claims. Joseph Martin, the commander of the coalition's ground forces, stated, "The responsibility for this destruction lies entirely with the Islamic State, and we will continue to support our Iraqi partners to bring these terrorists to justice." He also added that the battle for the liberation of Mosul is not yet over.
Iraqi Prime Minister: ISIS Officially Declared Its Defeat by Destroying the Mosul Mosque
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared the destruction of the al-Nuri mosque by ISIS as a sign of the group's defeat. This event occurred just before Iraqi forces were to reclaim the mosque, highlighting the ongoing conflict in Mosul. The situation underscores the significant military pressure on ISIS as the Iraqi army continues its operations.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
ISIS destroyed the al-Nuri mosque and its al-Hadba minaret in Mosul just before Iraqi forces were to reclaim it, which Iraqi Prime Minister al-Abadi declared as a sign of ISIS's defeat. This act underscores the ongoing military pressure on ISIS in the region.
- The al-Nuri mosque was the site where ISIS leader al-Baghdadi declared the caliphate.
- The destruction occurred when Iraqi forces were only 50 meters away from the mosque.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The al-Nuri mosque was historically significant and its destruction by ISIS represents a desperate act as the group faces military defeat. The conflict in Iraq has deep sectarian roots and implications for regional stability.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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