BAGHDAD (Dispatches) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’ al-Sudani officially reopened the historic al-Nuri Mosque and its iconic al-Hadba minaret in Mosul, marking the end of a yearslong restoration project. 
The mosque, a landmark of the city for nearly 850 years, was destroyed by Daesh in 2017 when takfiri terrorists detonated explosives inside during fierce battles for control of Mosul.
Al-Sudani condemned the 2017 demolition as an attack aimed at erasing Mosul’s spirit and breaking its ties to its proud history. He said the mosque’s reconstruction symbolizes the resilience of the Iraqi people and their determination to reclaim their cultural heritage.
The reconstruction effort was supported by UNESCO and the United Arab Emirates, who, along with Iraq, signed an agreement in 2018 to allocate $50.4 million from the UAE to rebuild the mosque under the “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” initiative.
Dr. Muhammad Al Hassan, the UN Secretary-General’s special representative for Iraq, praised the cooperation behind the project’s success. He said the reopening represents Mosul’s declaration to the world of the triumph of life over destruction and hope over despair.
The al-Nuri Mosque, built in the 12th century, was long a defining feature of Mosul’s skyline, with its leaning minaret, known as al-Hadba, among the city’s most recognizable symbols before its destruction.