MOSUL, Iraq (AP) – In their battle for Mosul, Iraqi forces are pushing toward a landmark mosque blown up last week by the Islamic State group.
Special forces Maj. Gen. Sami al-Aridi says his troops won’t enter the destroyed al-Nuri Mosque complex since militants have likely rigged it with explosives but will work to secure the area.
Thursday’s development comes as Iraqi forces are pushing through the last IS-held neighborhood in Mosul, the so-called Old City, to the west of the Tigris River.
The mosque is hugely symbolic – from its pulpit, IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in July 2014 declared a self-styled “caliphate,” encompassing territories held by IS in Syria and Iraq.
Iraqi and coalition officials say IS explosives destroyed the building while the militant group says a U.S. airstrike was to blame.