The UN cultural agency, UNESCO, has uncovered a chilling reminder of the Islamic State’s destructive legacy in Mosul, Iraq. Five large-scale explosive devices, designed for significant destruction, were discovered hidden within the walls of the historic al-Nouri Mosque, a focal point of UNESCO’s restoration efforts since 2020. The bombs were found concealed within a specially rebuilt section of the southern wall of the mosque’s Prayer Hall on Tuesday. These devices were designed to cause significant damage, underscoring the ongoing challenges in clearing Mosul of explosives and revitalizing its devastated urban areas.
The discovery prompted Iraqi authorities to immediately secure the area and notify UNESCO, halting all reconstruction operations at the mosque. One bomb has been successfully defused and removed, but the remaining four are interconnected and will be safely disposed of in the coming days.
The al-Nouri Mosque, famed for its 12th-century leaning minaret, was destroyed by IS in 2017. It was from this very mosque that IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared an Islamic caliphate a decade ago on June 29, 2014. The mosque’s destruction marked a symbolic defeat for the extremist group, and its reconstruction holds immense significance for the city of Mosul.
Despite the progress made in recent years, much of Mosul’s old city remains in ruins, marked by minefield warning signs, highlighting the complexity of post-conflict reconstruction. UNESCO aims to complete the full reconstruction of al-Nouri Mosque by December, “finally erasing the stigma of the Daesh occupation,” the statement said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group’s name.
While the Islamic State group no longer controls any land and has lost many prominent leaders, the threat they pose remains. The group continues to recruit members and claim responsibility for deadly attacks around the world, including lethal operations in Iran and Russia earlier this year. Sleeper cells in Syria and Iraq still carry out attacks against government forces in both countries as well as U.S.-backed Syrian fighters, at a time when Iraq’s government is negotiating with Washington over a possible withdrawal of U.S. troops. The discovery of these bombs serves as a stark reminder of the lasting impact of the Islamic State’s reign of terror and the ongoing struggle to restore peace and security in the region.
