IS blowup landmark mosque in Mosul

IRBIL, June 21 (KUNA) -- The Iraqi joint command of operations said Wednesday that armed men from the so-called Islamic State (IS) have blown up the landmark Great Mosque of Al-Nuri and its famous leaning minaret in Mosul.
The Iraqi army had launched a push, backed by British and American forces, to regain the medieval mosque and surrounding areas from IS earlier in the day.
"Our forces were advancing toward their targets deep in the Old City and when they got to within 50 yards of the Nuri mosque, Daesh (IS) committed another historical crime by blowing up the Nuri mosque," Staff Lieutenant General Abdulamir Yarallah, the overall commander of the Mosul offensive, said in a statement. (end) sbr.mb