Obliterating The Past: The Ancient Sites Destroyed By ISIS In Syria And Iraq

The destruction of the oldest Christian monastery in Iraq is the latest crushing blow to heritage in the Middle East dealt by ISIS. Satellite imagery released today shows a heap of rubble where St Elijah’s once stood near the city of Mosul - the stronghold of the extremist group in the country. Islamist militants are waging war on the historical monuments of Syria and Iraq, destroying centuries-old temples, palaces and churches and looting artifacts from ancient civilisations. ISIS fighters claim the sites represent idolatry, and use proceeds from plundering the sites to fund their military operations. Lack of access to the area means that it is not possible to know the full extent of the damage - but satellite images and eyewitness accounts, as well as propaganda videos released by ISIS, show that some of the most important cultural treasures in the Middle East have been reduced to rubble.