The ministry said Isis had used heavy military vehicles but did not elaborate on the extent of the damage at the site, which sits to the south of the city on the banks of the Tigris river. It said the extremists continue to “defy the will of the world and the feelings of humanity”, in a posting on its Facebook page.
Once one of the most important cities of the Assyrian empire, Nimrud served as the main residence for the dynasty’s kings until 727 BC.
Excavations at the site were started by the British archaeologist Austen Henry Lanyard who brought more than six pairs of colossal statues of lions and bulls, known as lamassu, to the UK. They now reside in the British Museum.
Isis has attacked other archaeological and religious sites, claiming that they promote apostasy.
Meanwhile, the military commander of the Syrian jihadist group, Jabhat al-Nusra, has been killed in an air strike, the al-Qaeda-linked group has said on social media. Three other leaders were killed along with Abu Homam al-Shami, it said.
Source: Top Stories - Google News - http://ift.tt/1EtDP9Q
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