Iraqi and Syrian forces largely have driven ISIS militants out of places such as Mosul and Palmyra in 2017. But the historical treasures the jihadists destroyed will never recover.
On October 4, 2015, Syrian activists reported that ISIS had blown up the Arch of Triumph, a nearly 2,000-year-old structure in the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria. This is how the arch looked in 2010.
Arch of Triumph after
A photographer holds a 2014 photo of the Arch of Triumph in front of the remains of the historic Syrian monument, destroyed by ISIS in October 2015.
For centuries, invaders, religious fanatics and colonizers have intentionally targeted works of art, houses of worship and other pieces of heritage. The goal is often to uproot, eliminate, replace or impose control over the culture and heritage of their opponents.
Temple of Bel before
This is the Temple of Bel, oncee of the best-preserved Roman-era sites in the Syrian city of Palmyra, before its 2015 destruction.
Temple of Bel after
A photographer holds a 2014 image of the Temple of Bel in front of the temple’s ruins in 2015.
Temple of Bel satellite images
This satellite photo composite shows that explosives destroyed the temple within a three-day period in late August of 2015.
Baal Shamin Temple
The Temple of Baal Shamin, another ancient site in Palmyra, was targeted and destroyed by ISIS militants in the summer of 2015. These two satellite images confirm that the temple was completely leveled.
Militants erasing history
Both the Baal Shamin Temple and the Temple of Bel were likely destroyed by explosives, a technique ISIS has advertised in its videos. Here’s a still from one such video, found on YouTube.
ISIS taking aim
In addition to explosives, disturbing social media videos show militants taking aim at invaluable cultural artifacts.
Militants smash cultural legacies
In this screen-grab from video, ISIS militants topple ancient statues at a museum in Iraq’s northern city of Mosul. The militants then use sledgehammers to smash any remaining pieces.
Hatra ruins
For thousands of years, this face of a woman stared down at visitors in the ancient city of Hatra, 200 miles north of Baghdad, Iraq. Then, the Hatra ruins were deliberately destroyed by ISIS.
Ancient city of Hatra
Here, an ISIS militant takes a sledgehammer to the iconic face in the ancient Iraqi city of Hatra.
Accusations of war crimes
ISIS’ targeting of priceless artifacts, some of which have existed for thousands of years, has sparked global outrage and accusations of war crimes.
Mosque of the Prophet Jirjis
The Muslim shrine to the Prophet Jirjis in central Mosul, Iraq, was a historic mosque which dated back to the 14th century.
It was blown up by ISIS militants in June 2014, when they overran the city and imposed their harsh interpretation of Islamic law on its people..
Mourning the Mosque of the Prophet Jirjis
Saddened locals inspect the destroyed Mosque of the Prophet Jirjis in central Mosul, Iraq.
Mosque of the Prophet Younis
In June 2014, ISIS militants also destroyed the revered Mosque of the Prophet Younis in Mosul, Iraq, believed to be the burial place of the Prophet Jonah.
Mosque of the Prophet Younis now
Here, locals walk on the rubble of the destroyed Mosque of the Prophet Younis in Mosul, Iraq, 225 miles northwest of Baghdad.
The Muslim shrine was destroyed by ISIS militants who overran the city in June 2014.
Artifacts at the Museum of Mosul
A damaged artifact stands inside the destroyed Museum of Mosul in April 2017.
The museum was destroyed by ISIS in 2014 just as it was about to reopen after years of reconstruction.
Museum of Mosul
The Mosul Museum was destroyed by ISIS in 2014 just as it was about to reopen after years of reconstruction.
Nimrud
A picture taken in November 2016 shows destruction caused by ISIS at the archaeological site of Nimrud in the Nineveh province in northern Iraq, an area known in ancient times as Mesopotamia.
Nimrud obliterated
Nimrud, which was founded in the 13th century and became the capital of the Assyrian empire, was bulldozed by ISIS in 2015.
Ziwani mosque
A member of the Iraqi federal police walks through the rubble outside the damaged historic 19th century Ziwani mosque in the Old City of Mosul in June 2017.
Church of the Immaculate Conception
An Iraqi Christian resident of Qaraqosh, east of Mosul, stands at the heavily damaged Church of the Immaculate Conception in December 2016.
Church of the Immaculate Conception inside
Iraqi Christian residents of Qaraqosh, east of Mosul, come to pray at the heavily damaged Church of the Immaculate Conception in December 2016.
St. George’s Monastery
An Iraqi soldier inspects the debris at St. George’s Monastery, a historical Chaldean Catholic church on the northern outskirt of Mosul, in January 2017.
The monastery was destroyed by ISIS in 2015.
Al-Nuri Mosque gate
The destroyed gate of the Al-Nuri Mosque in the Old City of Mosul is shown in June 2017.
Al-Nuri Mosque
ISIS blew up the mosque on June 21 as Iraqi forces closed in.
Palmyra
Syrian government forces march at the ancient historical site of Syria’s ravaged Palmyra in May 2016.
Nineveh ruins
A picture taken in January 2017 shows damaged walls of the Nineveh ruins in eastern Mosul.
Beloved mosque
The Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service stands guard next to Mosul’s destroyed ancient leaning minaret, known as the “Hadba” (Hunchback), in the Old City of Mosul in July 2017.
Leaning Al-Hadba minaret
This composite shows the Al-Habda minaret area before and after the structure was blown up by ISIS in June 2017.
Church of Mart Shmony
David Dosha, the priest of the Church of Mart Shmony in the Christian Iraqi town of Bartella, east of Mosul, inspects the damage in October 2016.
Baalshmin temple
The remains of the Baalshmin temple in the Syrian ancient city of Palmyra, which was destroyed by ISIS in 2015, are shown on March 31, 2016.
