٠٠:٠٣:٢٠Many of the buildings in the Iraqi Christian town of Qaraqosh near Mosul were seen lying in ruins, Tuesday. The town was seized by the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL) in 2014 and liberated approximately four months ago.
Several of the images capture homes reportedly destroyed in an air strike in which coalition forces had targeted a car bomb, which was also destroyed in the attack. However there were no civilians in the houses because their inhabitants had fled the town before IS arrived.
According to locals, the owner of one house is in France, while another home owner is in Australia.
Also visible was the Church of St Mary al-Tahira in Qaraqosh. It is the largest church in Qaraqosh. IS reportedly used it as a shooting range when they occupied the town. Crosses were destroyed, books burnt, and before leaving IS also tried to burn down the whole church.
Iraq: Christian town of Qaraqosh lies in ruins following IS occupation
Many of the buildings in the Iraqi Christian town of Qaraqosh near Mosul were seen lying in ruins, Tuesday. The town was seized by the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL) in 2014 and liberated approximately four months ago.
Several of the images capture homes reportedly destroyed in an air strike in which coalition forces had targeted a car bomb, which was also destroyed in the attack. However there were no civilians in the houses because their inhabitants had fled the town before IS arrived.
According to locals, the owner of one house is in France, while another home owner is in Australia.
Also visible was the Church of St Mary al-Tahira in Qaraqosh. It is the largest church in Qaraqosh. IS reportedly used it as a shooting range when they occupied the town. Crosses were destroyed, books burnt, and before leaving IS also tried to burn down the whole church.
Many of the buildings in the Iraqi Christian town of Qaraqosh near Mosul were seen lying in ruins, Tuesday. The town was seized by the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL) in 2014 and liberated approximately four months ago.
Several of the images capture homes reportedly destroyed in an air strike in which coalition forces had targeted a car bomb, which was also destroyed in the attack. However there were no civilians in the houses because their inhabitants had fled the town before IS arrived.
According to locals, the owner of one house is in France, while another home owner is in Australia.
Also visible was the Church of St Mary al-Tahira in Qaraqosh. It is the largest church in Qaraqosh. IS reportedly used it as a shooting range when they occupied the town. Crosses were destroyed, books burnt, and before leaving IS also tried to burn down the whole church.