Mosul's Al-Nouri Mosque destroyed. Isis and the United States exchange blame

In that mosque in Baghdadi proclaimed the caliphate in 2014. Al-Abadi: It is an official declaration of defeat. " The mosque and the leaning minaret were among the oldest monuments in the city dating back to the 12th century. The old town of Mosul has been under siege. According to Isis it was destroyed by American operations.

Mosul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Islamic State jihadists have destroyed the Al-Nouri Mosque and the adjoining minaret [the Hadba]. Today, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that this destruction is "an official declaration of defeat" by the militant group.

The destruction of the two monuments took place last night on the fourth day of the new offensive of Iraqi troops and the US-led international coalition, which is occupying a last part - the center of the old town - in Mosul, where hundreds of Islamic State fighters (IS) are putting up a fierce resistance, having also mined many buildings and narrow streets. The coalition is making very slow progress because hundreds of thousands of civilians in the old town are often used by jihadist's as human shields.

The mosque, whose foundations date back to the twelfth century, had become very famous because within it Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had proclaimed the caliphate on June 29, 2014 (photo 3).

Last night, aerial photographs were published, where instead of the two ancient monuments lie ruins and craters (Photo 1). A statement by Gen. Abdulamir Yarallah says, "Our forces were about to advance, when they arrived 50 meters from the Al-Nouri Mosque, Daesh committed a new historical crime by exploding the mosque at Nouri and Hadba."

But later, on Twitter, Islamic State jihadists through their Amaq agency blamed American raids for the destruction. The short message says: "Urgent: IS Amaq agency says the Al-Nouri mosque was destroyed by some American raids."

Last night, Gen. Joseph Martin, Land Force Commander, reiterated that "Daesh has destroyed one of the greatest treasures of Iraq and Mosul".

Since the proclamation of the "Caliphate", IS has destroyed many historical monuments in Iraq and Syria.

The Al-Nouri Mosque takes its name from Noureddin al-Zinki, Syrian and Iraqi unifier, who ordered its construction in 1172. With a project of renewal and expansion, the mosque was destroyed and reconstructed in 1942. The pendant minaret was the oldest and most ancient part of the ancient monument (photo 3).