BAGHDAD (AP) — Residents of the Iraqi city of Mosul say Islamic extremist militants have blown up a revered Muslim shrine traditionally said to be the burial place of the Prophet Jonah.
The residents say the Islamic State militants, who overran Mosul in June and imposed their harsh interpretation of Islamic law on the city, ordered everyone out of the Prophet Younis Mosque and Shrine on Thursday, then blew it up.
The residents say several nearby houses were also damaged by the blast. They spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing for their own safety.
The mosque was built on an archaeological site dating back to 8th century BC. It was renovated in the 1990's under dictator Saddam Hussein.