ISIS wages all-out war to destroy the lives and heritage of the people in Iraq since the beginning of their violent rise to power. While the nation's militia are fiercely trying to reclaim their land, over 40 countries around the world join the war effort to recover Iraq's historical treasures.
ISIS terrorists sacked the Iraqi town of Nimrud. Once a principal city of the Assyrian Empire, the area is left in ruins after its occupiers bulldozed vestige buildings and looted key artifacts.
It is one thing to take the lives of the land's inhabitants. But to also wipe out their culture is an all new level of barbarism never likely experienced since the past two centuries. Prescribing to their skewed version of Islam, the ISIS easily earned the condemnation of the whole world.
How ISIL destroyed Nimrud - one of Iraq's archaeological treasures https://t.co/IZHNoMvRHX pic.twitter.com/67PovDytQx
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 1, 2016
In an article published by Daily Mail UK, the delegates of the 40 countries that joined the UNESCO-backed conference in Abu Dhabi on December 3, 2016, conceded to their funding target. They aim to collect a total amount of $100 million and between France and the United Arab Emirates, the contribution has already $30 million.
In a related report by The Times of Israel, some countries expressed their reservations despite the nobility of the cause. The idea of moving precious artifacts out of Iraq did not sit well with Greek representatives especially in light of their ongoing struggle to reclaim artifacts (Elgin Marbles) from Parthenon Temple after they were spirited away by the British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 1800's.
Fortunately, such scenario is underscored as 'the last resort' and it would not be a recommended course of action while Iraqi's locals can still secure the reclaimed heritage sites. Based on the last reports by Jobs & Hire, many civilian and combatant lives are sacrificed in the ongoing national campaign to liberate Iraq from ISIS.
