Islamic State blows up historic Mosul mosque where it declared 'caliphate' - Iraqi military

[webfact]

Islamic State blows up historic Mosul mosque where it declared 'caliphate' - Iraqi military

By Marius Bosch and Maher Chmaytelli

 

A still image taken from video shows the destroyed Grand al-Nuri Mosque of Mosul in Iraq, June 21, 2017. Iraqi Military Handout/via Reuters TV

 

MOSUL/ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - Islamic State militants on Wednesday blew up the Grand al-Nuri Mosque of Mosul and its famous leaning minaret, an Iraqi military statement said, as Iraqi forces seeking to expel the group from the city closed in on the site.

 

It was from this medieval mosque three years ago that the militants' leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a self-styled "caliphate" spanning parts of Syria and Iraq.

 

A flag of Islamic State militants is seen on top of Mosul's Al-Hadba minaret at the Grand Mosque, where Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared his caliphate back in 2014, during clashes between Iraqi forces and Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, March 24, 2017. REUTE

 

Islamic State's Amaq news agency accused American aircraft of destroying the mosque, a claim swiftly denied by the U.S.-led international coalition fighting the hardline Sunni group.

 

"We did not strike in that area," coalition spokesman U.S. Air Force Colonel John Dorrian told Reuters by phone.

 

"The responsibility of this devastation is laid firmly at the doorstep of ISIS," said a statement from the commander of the coalition's ground component, U.S. Army Major General Joseph Martin, using an acronym for Islamic State.

 

The Iraqi military's media office distributed a picture taken from the air that appeared to show the mosque and minaret flattened in the middle of the small houses of the Old City, the historic district where the militants are besieged.

 

"The Daesh (Islamic State) terror gangs committed another historical crime by blowing up the al-Nuri mosque and its historical al-Hadba minaret," the Iraqi military statement said.

 

The Iraqis lovingly call the minaret Al-Hadba, or "the hunchback."

 

A video seen on social media showed the minaret collapsing vertically in a vast billow of sand and dust, as a woman lamented in the background, saying "the minaret, the minaret, the minaret."

 

The explosions happened as Iraq's elite Counter Terrorism Service units, which have been battling their way through Mosul's Old City, got to within 50 meters (164 feet) of the mosque, the Iraqi military statement said.

 

An Iraqi military spokesman gave the timing of the explosion as 9:35 p.m (1835 GMT).

 

"This is a crime against the people of Mosul and all of Iraq, and is an example of why this brutal organization must be annihilated," said U.S. Major General Martin.

 

Iraqi forces said earlier on Wednesday they had started a push towards the mosque.

 

The forces on Tuesday had encircled the jihadist group's stronghold in the Old City, the last district under Islamic State control in Mosul.

 

Al-Baghdadi proclaimed himself "caliph" - or ruler of all Muslims - from the mosque's pulpit on July 4, 2014, after the insurgents overran vast swathes of Iraq and Syria.

 

His black flag had been flying over its 150-foot (45-metre)leaning minaret since June 2014.

 

Baghdadi's speech from the mosque was also the first time he revealed himself to the world, and the footage broadcast then is to this day the only video recording of him as "caliph."

 

MINARET WAS VULNERABLE

 

Iraqi officials had privately expressed the hope that the mosque could be captured in time for Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month. The first day of the Eid falls this year on June 25 or 26 in Iraq.

 

"The battle for the liberation of Mosul is not yet complete, and we remain focused on supporting the Iraqi Security Forces with that objective in mind," said Martin.

 

The fall of Mosul would, in effect, mark the end of the Iraqi half of the "caliphate" even though Islamic State would continue to control territory west and south of the city, the largest they held sway over in both Iraq and Syria.

 

Baghdadi has left the fighting in Mosul to local commanders and is believed to be hiding in the border area between Iraq and Syria, according to U.S. and Iraqi military sources.

 

The mosque is named after Nuruddin al‑Zanki, a noble who fought the early crusaders from a fiefdom that covered territory in modern-day Turkey, Syria and Iraq. The mosque was built in 1172-73, shortly before his death, and housed an Islamic school.

 

By the time renowned medieval traveller Ibn Battuta visited two centuries later, the minaret was already leaning. Its tilt gave the landmark its popular name: the hunchback.

 

It was built with seven bands of decorative brickwork in complex geometric patterns ascending in levels towards the top in designs also found in Persia and Central Asia.

 

Nabeel Nouriddin, a historian and archaeologist specialising in Mosul and its Nineveh region, said the minaret has not been renovated since 1970, making it particularly vulnerable to blasts even if it was not directly hit.

 

The Mosque's destruction occurred during the holiest period of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, its final 10 days. The night of Laylat al-Qadr falls during this period, marking when Muslims believe the Quran was revealed to prophet Mohammed.

 

(additional reporting by Ahmed Rasheed in Baghdad and Phil Stewart in Washington; writing by Maher Chmaytelli; editing by Toby Chopra and Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-06-22

[Raymonddiaz]

Good news for the world if it's true. The beginning of the end for ISIS.

[darksidedog]

58 minutes ago, webfact said:

Baghdadi has left the fighting in Mosul to local commanders and is believed to be hiding in the border area between Iraq and Syria,

Like a true rat, he encourages his followers to die for the cause, but then to protect his own miserable neck, does a runner and hides. One hopes people tempted to follow him take note of their leaders cowardice.

[AhFarangJa]

I read the other day the Russians are claiming they killed him.....

Fingers croosed it turns out to be true, though I guess another worthless cowardly worm will slither up and take his place.....

[boomerangutang]

Over 800 yrs old.  Nice bit of architecture.  Maybe someone will plant a tree in its place.   A tree does more good than a mosque. 

[Stargeezr]

Yep ISIL is endearing the world to their cause.  How how to get everyone to hate you champagne.    Keep it up ISIL  I do hope the whole world goes after your group and every other terrorist group until you are all dead and seeing the 17 demons that you think will be virgins, as you will all be going to Hell when you are killed off or die. Good Riddance to you all, especially those losers who changed their religions recently just to go fight for your cause.

Geezer

[Scott]

I wonder what their justification is for blowing up a Mosque.   I would think that would not sit well with Allah.  

[Salerno]

Sore losers.

[Sydebolle]

Nothing wrong with them blowing each other up; just carry on the good work! 

[ddavidovsky]

Why would ISIS destroy their own mosque and then claim the US had done it? Doesn't seem to any strategic or rational reason for it.

 

Much easier to believe that a number of ISIS members were meeting or holed up in the mosque, where they might have assumed they would be safe, and it was targetted by an air strike for that reason by the US who simply want to get this over with and calculated that they could get away with it by blaming it on ISIS. The disclaimers from various US military people  and the Iraqi government sounds suspiciously coordinated.

 

The only reason to assume it was not an airstrike is because it would be too big a lie to get away with, and would risk alienating the local people if/when the truth came out. But I suspect the US would just as easily consider it justifiable collateral damage and until there is further evidence I am assuming the US did it.

[Salerno]

Given the ramping up of tension  between Russia and USA if it was an airstrike pretty sure the Russians would say so.

[ddavidovsky]

Looking at the aerial photo of the destroyed area, it looks exactly like it has been flattened by an air strike. I'm no expert, but I don't think explosives on the ground would have that kind of pulverising effect.

[Andaman Al]

3 minutes ago, ddavidovsky said:

I'm no expert, but I don't think explosives on the ground would have that kind of pulverising effect.

Why not?

 

Well it settles it really, there is nothing religious about ISIS.

 

The Centre of their caliphate is now destroyed. Good. Hopefully it signifies the end of their hateful reign of terror. Will Donald take claim for this?

[ddavidovsky]

11 minutes ago, Andaman Al said:

Why not?

Because missiles are more powerful than sticks of dynamite?

 

You're right that it was the centre of their caliphate, which is probably why the US destroyed it, so as not to leave any kind of monument to their presence. Downright lies are shabby and contemptible though, from anyone.

[boomerangutang]

31 minutes ago, Andaman Al said:

Why not? Well it settles it really, there is nothing religious about ISIS.

The Centre of their caliphate is now destroyed. Good. Hopefully it signifies the end of their hateful reign of terror. Will Donald take claim for this?

Now they can all move to Zanzibar and become surfin' bums.  Paddle out to sea and get eaten by sharks. 

[simple1]

54 minutes ago, Andaman Al said:

Why not?

 

Well it settles it really, there is nothing religious about ISIS.

 

The Centre of their caliphate is now destroyed. Good. Hopefully it signifies the end of their hateful reign of terror. Will Donald take claim for this?

Isn't the political centre of the so called caliphate Raqqa? You're right, destroying an ancient Sunni mosque doesn't support ISIS claims of religiosity. Personally doubt the US coalition would target the mosque - pi@# off too many of the Iraqi Sunnis. 

[ddavidovsky]

2 hours ago, simple1 said:

Isn't the political centre of the so called caliphate Raqqa? You're right, destroying an ancient Sunni mosque doesn't support ISIS claims of religiosity. Personally doubt the US coalition would target the mosque - pi@# off too many of the Iraqi Sunnis. 

I doubt they care any more. So much has already been destroyed in these wars, ancient mosques and much older stuff.

 

Can you imagine this memo exchange with Trump?:

"Located ISIS commanders. Hiding in an old mosque. Permission to attack?"

"Oh dear, please don't damage anything, especially not the old mosque. Better just leave them alone."

 

No, I don't think so.

[Scott]

Very unlikely that it was an airstrike.   The Iraqi forces would not permit it and it would be a major incident if a Western country blew up a Mosque.   That would be way too much of a PR action to go unnoticed.

 

I have friends and former (Kurdish) colleagues who live in Irbil and in Suleimaniya.   I haven't heard this from them.   One has extended family members in Mosul.   I'll see if he has any updates.  

 

 

[ddavidovsky]

BBC has footage of the thing actually exploding. A wide area is annihilated in a split second like a nuclear blast. The minaret doesn't topple, its whole length is instantly pulverised by the shock. If that isn't an air strike it's the best demolition job I've ever seen.

Come on, it's an air strike.

Edited June 22, 2017 by ddavidovsky

[Morch]

14 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Like a true rat, he encourages his followers to die for the cause, but then to protect his own miserable neck, does a runner and hides. One hopes people tempted to follow him take note of their leaders cowardice.

 

Most leaders, regardless of nationality or cause, do not lead on the battlefield. Or as Pink Floyd put it - "Forward" he cried from the rear and the front rank died...

 

 

[Andaman Al]

8 hours ago, simple1 said:

Isn't the political centre of the so called caliphate Raqqa? You're right, destroying an ancient Sunni mosque doesn't support ISIS claims of religiosity. Personally doubt the US coalition would target the mosque - pi@# off too many of the Iraqi Sunnis. 

 

2 hours ago, Scott said:

Very unlikely that it was an airstrike.   The Iraqi forces would not permit it and it would be a major incident if a Western country blew up a Mosque.   That would be way too much of a PR action to go unnoticed.

 

I have friends and former (Kurdish) colleagues who live in Irbil and in Suleimaniya.   I haven't heard this from them.   One has extended family members in Mosul.   I'll see if he has any updates.  

 

 

All correct. I have been on Ops in this part of the world and great lengths were taken to ensure that Mosques were never targeted, and yes ddavisdovsky if that means terrorists are sheltering inside a mosque it will not be hit by an airstrike by coalition forces. Unless there has been a 180 degree change in the rules of engagement in the Middle East it is a non starter to think the Americans blew up a 12th century mosque.

[Morch]

9 hours ago, ddavidovsky said:

Because missiles are more powerful than sticks of dynamite?

 

You're right that it was the centre of their caliphate, which is probably why the US destroyed it, so as not to leave any kind of monument to their presence. Downright lies are shabby and contemptible though, from anyone.

 

The mosque was there way before ISIS. Local sentiment with regard to the mosque was there before ISIS.

If ISIS deliberately destroyed the mosque, the main gains would be (1) attempting to pin it on coalition forces, and (2) denying coalition forces a victory photo-op. Then again, it could have been an honest accident, if explosives and the like were stored inside the structure. Wouldn't be a first.

[ddavidovsky]

Have a look at the blast and tell me that you believe that was dynamited. Or an 'honest accident'???

 

This is most blatant and egregious example of military-promulgated and media-supported mendacity I've ever seen.

Jaw-dropping. How naive you all are.

[Andaman Al]

9 hours ago, ddavidovsky said:

Because missiles are more powerful than sticks of dynamite?

Who mentioned 'sticks of dynamite' ?

 

It is likely that the mosque was used as a weapons storage area for huge amounts of shells, RPG's, ammo etc etc (knowing full well that the mosque would not be attacked!) In the final throws of battle when ISIS knew they were going to be overrun , rather than let the Iraqi's get the munitions it was set off.

 

Going back to your original assumption above, well that all depends on the missile and the number of 'sticks of dynamite' used. Here is 100 tons of dynamite and it would be very easy to assume that in a weapons storage area such as that mosque, there were more than 100 tons of high explosive/munitions.

 

 

 

[Andaman Al]

2 minutes ago, ddavidovsky said:

Have a look at the blast and tell me that you believe that was dynamited. Or an 'honest accident'???

 

This is most blatant and egregious example of military-promulgated and media-supported mendacity I've ever seen.

Jaw-dropping. How naive you all are.

you are the naive one. You have no interest in listening to anyone that has experience.

[Morch]

3 minutes ago, ddavidovsky said:

Have a look at the blast and tell me that you believe that was dynamited. Or an 'honest accident'???

 

This is most blatant and egregious example of military-promulgated and media-supported mendacity I've ever seen.

Jaw-dropping. How naive you all are.

 

Unsurprisingly, seems like you're fully decided it's a Western sham. Guess being "no expert" helps with those sort of things.

 

[ddavidovsky]

Bias evidently invalidates experience.

My own expertise is sociology and an understanding of human nature.

 

Have you seen the footage of the blast? The minaret, which was already leaning, doesn't topple and fall as it would in a demolition - it is literally atomised in mid-air.

Munitions dump in an ancient mosque? Why make stuff up to fit what you want to believe? I only believe what I'm seeing here.

[Andaman Al]

1 minute ago, ddavidovsky said:

Bias evidently invalidates experience.

My own expertise is sociology and an understanding of human nature.

 

Have you seen the footage of the blast? The minaret, which was already leaning, doesn't topple and fall as it would in a demolition - it is literally atomised in mid-air.

Munitions dump in an ancient mosque? Why make stuff up to fit what you want to believe? I only believe what I'm seeing here.

Well if I were an ISIS commander, where would I put ALL my munitions to keep them safe? In a 12 century Mosque that neither the Americans or Iraqi's would have the balls to strike either with artillery or airstrike. Look at the explosion I showed you, of course the minaret would be 'atomised'. Are you trying to tell us ISIS would have carried out a planned 'demolition'? It was a weapons dump for sure, ISIS were about to be run over and set the whole thing off. Occams Razor!

[Scott]

A troll post has been removed.   Stay on topic and stop with the bickering.  

 

The OP is pretty clear about who did what.   Unless someone wants to come up with some credible information to the contrary, that's the presumption we will go with.   

[ddavidovsky]

3 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

So you are both biased, and by your own admission, no expert.  As for understanding of human nature, I don't think so, considering past topics. As for making up stuff while calling others out on making up stuff - same old.

Why am I biased? Ah, you are leaping to prejudicial conclusions from my user name.

I am not Russian, nor anti-US. I am Anglo-Saxon, from Yorkshire, where my ancestors have resided since the year dot.

The name is homage to a couple of my idols, Dostoyevsky and Tarkovsky. Sorry to disappoint.

On this issue - on all issues, by principle - I am completely objective. However, I admit to having a casual interest in Islamic architecture and have toured such sites in the Middle East in quieter times.

 

Andaman Al mentioned Occam's Razor. I agree the best theory involves the least number of words, and they are: the US did it.