The IS fighters were not deterred by UNESCO World Heritage status and destroyed ancient cities such as Hatra and Nineveh. They began destroying monuments, churches, and mosques in conquered areas of Iraq and Syria in the fall of 2014, including numerous archaeological sites. The IS attempted to destroy the diverse way of life in Mosul.

Historic buildings in Mosul, including churches and mosques, are being reopened following years of devastation resulting from the Iraqi city's takeover by the extremist Islamic State (IS) group. The project, organised and funded by Unesco, began a year after IS was defeated and driven out of the city, in northern Iraq, in 2017.