The Islamic State (IS) militant group has posted a video online purportedly showing its men destroying a major world heritage site in Iraq's ancient city of Hatra.
The footage posted online late on Friday shows the militants smashing the walls and shooting with assault rifles at invaluable statues at an archaeological site in Hatra in Nineveh province, Press TV reported on Saturday.
The video, published on a website frequently used by the IS, shows terrorists using sledgehammers and pickaxes to reduce ancient statues to crumbles.
The site, which was recognised as a World Heritage Site by Unesco, was attacked last month by IS militants, according to residents and local officials.
No clear estimate has been made on the extent of damage as the city is located in the territory which was under the control of the IS.
Parts of the video are dedicated to statements in Arabic by IS members who apparently say they destroyed the site because people worshiped it instead of God.
The IS has already destroyed other notable sites in the territory. In March, the terrorists bulldozed the 3,000-year-old city of Nimrud, one of the world's most important historical sites.
The destruction triggered worldwide condemnation, with UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon calling it a "war crime".
