The ancient city of Hatra, at the Departament of Nineveh in Iraq, has been liberated in the past few days from Daesh. Unesco has confirmed the news and announced the intention to send an archeological mission to the city as soon as the security in the area is ensured. .

On the damages perpetrated by Daesh in this city, and in many other archeological places of the region, Ms Irina Bokova mentioned:

“Violent extremists know the power of heritage to unite, to bring people together and provide them with pride, confidence and dignity – this is why they target and destroy heritage. The protection of heritage has become more than a cultural issue – it is also a security issue, and this is the spirit of the recent Resolution 2347 adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council on 24 March, putting culture at the heart of international efforts to build peace (…). The deliberate destruction of heritage is a war crime, and UNESCO will do everything in its power to ensure these crimes do not go unpunished. I call on all parties to preserve this unique heritage as an essential condition for peace and the future of the region”.