Iraqi Minister – Concerns Over IS Looting Third Ancient Site

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's minister of tourism and antiquities says the government is investigating reports that the ancient archaeological site of Khorsabad in northern Iraq is being the latest to be attacked by the Islamic State militant group.

Adel Shirshab told The Associated Press there are concerns the militants will remove artifacts and heavily damage the site, located 15 kilometers (9 miles) northeast of Mosul.

Saeed Mamuzini, a Kurdish official from Mosul, told the AP that the militants began their demolition of the Khorsabad site on Sunday.

The group has already looted and damaged two UNESCO world heritage sites — Nimrod and Hatra — both in northern Iraq.

Khorsabad was constructed as a new capital of Assyria by King Sargon II shortly after he came to the throne in 721 B.C.