The tomb of former Iraq leader Saddam Hussein, has been reduced to concrete rubble during a battle between ISIS and Iraqi forces over control of Tikrit. It is still unclear which side is responsible for the act.
Clashes between the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) militants and Iraqi forces intensified on Sunday when the latter announced that they were going to regain control over Mosul city within 48 hours. Most battles take place to the north south of the city.
Witnesses say only columns the columns of the complesx remained of the building which used to be a marble mausoleum in the village of al-Awja.
Hussein’s poster-sized pictures, which previously covered the crypt have now been replaced with Shiite flags and photos of militia leaders.
READ MORE: Ancient statues destroyed by ISIS fake, real ones safe – report [ Ссылка ]
Capitan Yasser Nu’ma, an official with the Shiite militias, formerly known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, said Hussein’s native village Al-Auja suffered from the biggest attack as his tomb is located there. ISIS militants place bombs and explosives around the charnel to make traps for Iraqi forces, he added.
Tikrit has been controlled by ISIS militants since June 2014. In November they destroyed the tomb of Saddam Hussein’s father which was also located there.
“This is one of the areas where IS militants massed the most because Saddam’s grave is here,” Captain Yasser Numa, an official with the Shia militias, formerly known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces, told AP.
According to Numa, the IS militants have been planting bombs around the tomb, thus, setting a trap.
In August ISIS claimed that they completely destroyed Saddam's tomb, but local officials said that it suffered only minor damage, and had just been ransacked and burned.
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MAKAM Saddam Hussein musnah dalam pertempuran untuk Tikrit IRAQ (VIDEO)
Makam bekas pemimpin Iraq Saddam Hussein, telah diranapkan konkrit semasa pertempuran antara ISIS dan pasukan Iraq lalui kawalan Tikrit. Ia masih tidak jelas pihak mana yang bertanggungjawab bagi perbuatan itu.
Pertempuran antara Negara Islam (IS, yang sebelum ini ISIS) militan dan pasukan Iraq dipergiatkan pada hari Ahad apabila beliau mengumumkan bahwa mereka akan mendapatkan semula kawalan ke atas bandar Mosul dalam tempoh 48 jam. Kebanyakan pertempuran berlaku di selatan bandar utara.
Saksi berkata hanya ruangan ruangan dpd complesx kekal bangunan yg digunakan utk menjadi makam marmar di perkampungan al-Awja.
Poster bersaiz gambar Hussein, yang sebelum ini dilindungi kubur kini telah digantikan dengan bendera Syiah dan gambar pemimpin militia.
Capitan Yasser Nu'ma, seorang pegawai militia Syiah, yg sebelum ini dikenali sebagai Angkatan Pengerahan Popular, berkata kampung asli Hussein Al-Auja mengalami serangan terbesar sebagai kuburnya terletak di sana. Militan ISIS meletakkan bom dan bahan letupan di sekeliling kubur untuk membuat perangkap untuk pasukan Iraq, katanya.
Tikrit telah dikawal oleh ISIS militan sejak Jun 2014. Pd bulan November mereka memusnahkan makam bapa Saddam Hussein yg juga terletak di sana.
"Ini adalah salah satu kawasan di mana IS militan berkumpul yg paling byk kerana kubur Saddam adalah di sini," Kapten Yasser Numa, seorang pegawai militia Syiah, yg sebelum ini dikenali sebagai Angkatan Mobilisasi Popular, kepada AP.
Menurut Numa, militan IS telah menanam bom menetapkan perangkap di sekitar kubur itu.
Pada bulan Ogos ISIS mendakwa bahwa mereka benar2 memusnahkan makam Saddam, tetapi pegawai-pegawai tempatan berkata bahwa ia hanya mengalami kerosakan kecil, dan baru sahaja menggeledah dan dibakar.
