Mosul…City of Ancient Treasures

A general view shows the Nuri Moaque’s leaning minaret in the Iraqi city of Mosul prior to its destruction by ISIS. (AFP)
A general view shows the Nuri Moaque’s leaning minaret in the Iraqi city of Mosul prior to its destruction by ISIS. (AFP)
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Mosul…City of Ancient Treasures

A general view shows the Nuri Moaque’s leaning minaret in the Iraqi city of Mosul prior to its destruction by ISIS. (AFP)
A general view shows the Nuri Moaque’s leaning minaret in the Iraqi city of Mosul prior to its destruction by ISIS. (AFP)

The city of Mosul, which was declared ISIS-free on July 10, is the second largest city of Iraq and is known with its historic fabrics and treasures.

ISIS seized control of Mosul (350 km north of Baghdad) through a lightening attack in June 2014. Ensuing heavy fights between the extremists and Iraqi forces partially destroyed the city.

Mosul, through which runs the Tigris River, is the largest city in the oil-rich Nineveh province in northern Iraq, and was completely recaptured by Iraqi forces in August.

Sunni Muslims make up the majority of the city located in a region dominated by a Kurdish population, where Turkmen, Shi’ites, Christians and other minorities also live.

Mosul is located at the crossroads of a highway network in northern Iraq, linking Iraq to Syria in the west and to Turkey in the north.

The city was famous for the production of "muslin", a type of cotton fabric. It is also known for its archaeological sites and gardens before becoming a field of daily violence after the US invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

Since July 2014, ISIS destroyed Shi’ite mosques and tombs, some of which were built centuries ago. Mots notable of these landmarks was the shrine of the Prophet Younis.

Destroyed in the battles and bombardments in the center of the city was the Nuri Mosque and its minaret dating back to the 12th century.

Extremists also burned thousands of books and manuscripts found in the great heritage museum in Mosul.

History of Mosul

Muslims entered the city of Mosul in 641, which became an important commercial center in the region, where caravans met between the Levant and Persia. The city reached the peak of its prosperity in the 12th century before falling in the hands of the Mongols in 1262. Then the rule moved to the Persians and Ottomans.

In 1918, Britain joined this oil-rich region to Iraq, which at the time was under British mandate. This angered France, which sought to join Mosul to Syria, which was under its mandate. Turkey objected to this move, but the League of Nations approved it in 1925.

In the late 20th century, Mosul was considered one of the main strongholds of Iraqis supporting toppled President Saddam Hussein. After that, Iraq fell into chaos, which saw it fall under ISIS hands before the terror group was expelled from it.



Record Cold Grips Argentina, Chile and Uruguay

The three South American countries have all recorded sharply below-zero temperatures as the polar air originated from Antarctica and swept across the region. SEBASTIAN LOSADA / AFP
The three South American countries have all recorded sharply below-zero temperatures as the polar air originated from Antarctica and swept across the region. SEBASTIAN LOSADA / AFP
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Record Cold Grips Argentina, Chile and Uruguay

The three South American countries have all recorded sharply below-zero temperatures as the polar air originated from Antarctica and swept across the region. SEBASTIAN LOSADA / AFP
The three South American countries have all recorded sharply below-zero temperatures as the polar air originated from Antarctica and swept across the region. SEBASTIAN LOSADA / AFP

A polar air mass has brought record low temperatures to Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, causing at least 15 deaths and forcing governments to restrict gas supplies and activate emergency shelters.

The three South American countries have all recorded sharply below-zero temperatures as the polar air originated from Antarctica and swept across the region, said AFP.

In Argentina, at least nine homeless people have died from the cold this winter, according to NGO Proyecto 7.

The capital Buenos Aires recorded its lowest temperature since 1991 at -1.9 degrees Celcius (28.6 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, while the coastal city of Miramar saw snow for the first time in 34 years. Further south, the town of Maquinchao recorded -18C on Tuesday.

Electricity demand caused cuts across Buenos Aires, leaving thousands without power for over 24 hours in some areas.

The government suspended gas supplies to industries and petrol stations Wednesday to ensure household supplies, and removed price controls on gas cylinders Thursday.

Desert snow

Uruguay declared a nationwide "red alert" after six people died, allowing President Yamandu Orsi's government to forcibly move homeless people to shelters.

Montevideo recorded its lowest maximum temperature since 1967 at 5.8C on June 30, according to meteorologist Mario Bidegain.

Chile also activated homeless shelter plans during the coldest days. The city of Chillan, 400 kilometers (250 miles) south of Santiago, hit -9.3C, according to the Chilean Meteorological Directorate.

"What happened this week in Chile and the Southern Cone in general is a cold wave caused by an escape of a polar air mass from Antarctica," climatologist Raul Cordero from the University of Santiago told AFP.

Snow even fell in parts of the Atacama Desert, the world's driest, for the first time in a decade.

"It is not so common for these cold air masses to extend so far north, so we cannot rule out that this is also caused by climate change," meteorologist Arnaldo Zuniga told AFP.

The region expects relief in the coming days, with Buenos Aires reaching 12C on Thursday, Montevideo 14C and Santiago 24.7C.

"I was quite surprised by the change from cold to hot -- the change was very drastic," student Dafne Naranjo, 18, said in Santiago.

Climatologist Cordero said heatwaves have become more frequent than cold spells in recent years.

"The frequency of heatwaves has tripled, whether in summer or winter, not only in the Southern Cone but throughout the world," he said.