Iraqi Shiite Militias Capture Ancient City of Hatra Near Mosul

Iraqi militia forces announced on Wednesday, April 25, that they have captured the remnants of the ancient city of Hatra (al-Hadr), which is over two thousand years old, located southwest of Mosul. According to the Associated Press, the media section of the Iraqi state-sponsored militia units, most of which are Shiite groups, broadcast images in the afternoon of Wednesday showing what appears to be the ruins of a historical city, while simultaneously militia vehicles were moving across the vast plains. From these video images, it cannot be definitively stated that the Shiite militias have completely taken control of this ancient city. Karim al-Nouri, a spokesman for the militia forces, told Iraqi state television that they have captured this ancient city, which is part of UNESCO's human heritage, and that it is about three kilometers away from a city of the same name. He did not provide further details. Iraqi forces often claim that the fighters of the 'Islamic Caliphate' have been driven from areas that are not yet fully under their control, or that control of these areas quickly reverts back to the militants. The city of Hatra is believed to have been built in the 2nd or 3rd century BC by the Seleucid Empire. The 'Islamic Caliphate' destroyed this city and many other archaeological sites in Mosul and its surroundings after capturing large areas of northern Iraq in 2014. This extremist and violent group believes that archaeological sites promote idolatry, although ISIS finances part of its income by selling these artifacts on the black market. In April 2015, the 'Islamic Caliphate' released a video showing the destruction of statues and buildings in the city of Hatra by militants using sledgehammers and gunfire. In one scene of this video, a militant on a ladder strikes a statue with a sledgehammer until its head finally falls to the ground and shatters. The ancient city of Hatra, located 110 kilometers southwest of Mosul, thrived as a commercial and religious center in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. During the Parthian Empire and the first Arab kingdom in the region, it was a large city with massive walls and towers. It is said that this city was able to withstand the onslaught of the Roman Empire's army in the years 116 and 198 AD due to its defensive fortifications. The fortifications of this important commercial center had more than 160 towers at that time. In the center of the city, there were several temples, and at its heart, there was a large temple, a building supported by numerous columns and approximately 30 meters high.