In Photos: After liberation from IS, scenes of destruction linger at Mosul University

A photo showing signs of destruction at Mosul University.

(IraqiNews.com) Photos from Mosul University have shown destruction at one of the region’s oldest universities.

With 123 buildings receiving nearly 22.000 students a year, the university, a former major bastion for Islamic State militants, whose labs were used by the group to manufacture chemical weapons, had, however sustained damage at only 30 percent of its facilities, according to statements to Alsumaria News by its president, Obay Sa’id al-Dewachi.

 A man passes by a ravaged building at Mosul University

Iraqi government forces recaptured eastern Mosul, where the university is located, in January after three months of fighting with the Islamic State. Battles are now proceeding for the western region. Militants had set fire to the university’s precious libraries and ransacked its buildings. Iraqi security commanders leading the offensive against IS had said the group used the university’s labs to develop chemical weapons to use them against the advancing forces.

A building at Mosul University bears the scars of fighting between Iraqi troops and Islamic State militants.

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An area inside Mosul University after recapture from Islamic State members.

t is not clear when classes would resume, but various reports have depicted students and members of the teaching stuff cleaning the aftermath of battles at the campus preparing to proceed with study.

The Iraqi command said a few weeks ago Islamic State was controlling less than seven percent of Iraqi territory.

Source:Iraq News