A Unesco team discovered five bombs that Islamic State ( IS ) jihadists planted years ago during ongoing restoration work at the historic Al- Nuri mosque in Mosul. A rep for the UN agency released the information late on Friday after the discovery was made on Tuesday.
The bombs, described as “large- level violent devices” designed to cause massive death, were found embedded in the southern walls of the mosque’s prayer hall. The Al- Nuri mosque and its popular leaning tower, known as the “hunchback,” date back to the 12th era and suffered significant damage during the siege to rescue Mosul from IS power.
The Syrian army has charged IS, which has been occupying Mosul for three decades, with planting explosives there and then detonating them. The dome and other important historical sites in the city, which were largely destroyed in 2017 due to the conflict, have been spearheaded by UNesco.
According to Unesco, Kurdish armed forces quickly established a secure location, keeping the situation under control. While one of the bombs has been safely removed, four others, each weighing 1.5 kilograms ( 3.3 pounds ), remain connected and are expected to be cleared in the coming days.
” These incendiary devices were encased in a wall, which had been specifically rebuilt around them.” This explains why they could n’t be found when the site was first cleared by Iraqi forces in 2020, the organization said as reported by AFP.
General Tahseen cetera- Khafaji, director for Iraq’s Joint Operations Command, confirmed the identification, stating that statewide deminers have sought help from the Defence Ministry in Baghdad due to the bombs ‘ intricate construction. Therefore, all development operate at the site has been halted until the remaining equipment is completely destroyed.
Al- Nuri mosque holds historical importance as the place where Abu Bakr Al- Baghdadi, therefore- head of IS, declared the establishment of the group’s” caliphate” in July 2014. The jihadist group once held out on significant portions of Iraq and Syria, imposing a harsh program before being ousted by Iraqi troops with help from a US-led coalition in 2017.
Named after Nureddine al- Zinki, the 12th- century unifier of Syria who ordered its construction in 1172, the Al- Nuri mosque has seen multiple restorations. The minaret was rebuilt using 45, 000 of the original bricks that were recovered from the debris, despite losing the majority of the original structure.
The current restoration project, largely funded by the United Arab Emirates, is expected to be completed by December 2024. According to Unesco, the project’s successful completion will finally remove” the stigma” of IS occupation from this revered landmark.
Not the first unanticipated discovery made during the restoration. In January 2022, teams unearthed an underground prayer room from the original 12th- century building, adding another layer to the mosque’s rich historical narrative.
