Islamic State blows up historic Mosul mosque

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says the destruction of the Great al-Nuri Mosque is an “official declaration of defeat” by Islamic State

GREAT AL-NURI MOSQUE

800-year-old mosque, famous for 45-metre leaning minaret called Al-Hadba, or “hunchback”

Site of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s proclamation of “caliphate” in 2014

May 12-Jun 21 Advance of Iraqi forces

UN warns IS may be holding more than 100,000 people in Mosul as human shields

Iraqi forces battling through Mosul’s Old City were within 50 metres of mosque when it was destroyed, Iraqi military says

Tigris
MOSUL
Mosul airport
City limits
2km
1.25 miles

Mosul
IRAQ
Source: Institute for the Study of War
Pictures: Getty Images, Google Earth