The Gates of Nineveh

Nineveh, an ancient Assyrian city, was founded in the seventh century b.c. In the past, the city was protected by walls and numerous gates. The Adad Gate and the Mashki Gate, also referred to as the "Gate of God," were two of the most noticeable gates. In 2016, as part of its continuous attack against historical places and artifacts, ISIS demolished both of these gates.

Unconfirmed reports of the destruction of Nineveh's famous gates started to surface. Michael Danti, a professor of archaeology at Boston University and co-director of the Cultural Heritage Initiative (CHI) at the American Schools of Oriental Research, has since confirmed these reports. The U.S. Department of State and the Initiative collaborate to chronicle the damage of historical and religious sites in Syria and Iraq.

According to the CHI photos, "reliable sources" in Mosul, the city surrounding Nineveh that is controlled by ISIS, and current satellite photography, the gates and a significant chunk of the defense wall have been destroyed.

• Country: Iraq