Iraq asks U.S.-led coalition to help prevent Islamic State destruction of antiquities
Iraqi cultural officials called for more military help from the U.S.-led coalition battling Islamic State to halt the group’s destruction of ancient monuments—a new source of anger, shock and shame for a nation reeling from the loss of life and land. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Adel al-Shershab on Sunday said the government was investigating reports […]Tamer El-Ghobashy writes for the Wall Street Journal:
Iraqi cultural officials called for more military help from the U.S.-led coalition battling Islamic State to halt the group’s destruction of ancient monuments—a new source of anger, shock and shame for a nation reeling from the loss of life and land. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Adel al-Shershab on Sunday said the government was investigating reports that the militants had begun bulldozing 2,000-year-old ruins in the city of Hatra. If confirmed, it would be the third attack in 10 days on heritage sites in artifact-rich Nineveh province, which has been occupied by Islamic State militants since June. “The international coalition, which pledged to protect Iraq, has to play a bigger role,” Mr. Shershab urged at a news conference.
