IRAQI troops have discovered an ancient palace beneath the ruins of a shrine destroyed by ISIS.

When security forces liberated eastern Mosul they discovered a labyrinth of tunnels under the Nabi Yunus shrine, which jihadis blew up in July 2014.

10 An Iraqi soldier leads reporters into the ancient underground palace in Mosul, Iraq Credit: Getty Images

The militants dug the network in the hill under the shrine – which reputedly marks the tomb of the Prophet Jonah – to plunder artefacts from within.

Incredible pictures show inside the tunnels, which are still filled with artefacts dating back to nearly 3,000 years ago.

Layla Salih who is in charge of antiquities for Nineveh province, said: "We fear it could all collapse at any time. There are cave-ins in the tunnels every day."

10 The tunnels are filled with beautiful artefacts dating back nearly 3,000 years to the Assyrian period in history Credit: Getty Images

Layla said the precious relics date back to the Assyrian period, and come from the palace of King Esarhaddon, who ruled from 681-669 BC.

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Two mural sculptures in white marble show winged bulls with only the sides and feet showing.

Other images show beautiful carvings depicting people, with inscriptions in an ancient language.

10 An Iraqi soldier shines his torch on some of the ancient carvings found in the tunnels beneath the Nabi Yunus shrine Credit: Getty Images

10 Two winged bulls dating from the Assyrian empire were found in a labyrinth of narrow underground tunnels dug by ISIS Credit: Getty Images

10 An Iraqi soldier stands guard at the entrance to the underground palace of the Assyrian King Esarhaddon Credit: Getty Images

Layla said: "These finds are very important. They teach us more about Assyrian art.

"In general, their sculptures show people in profile, whereas here we have women face on."

She said ISIS had not been able to remove many of the treasures for fear of the hill coming crashing down upon them.

But the terror group plundered other smaller artefacts, such as ancient pottery.

10 ISIS dug tunnels into the hill to plunder the ancient treasures within and sell them on the black market Credit: Getty Images

10 Layla Salih, head of antiquities for Nineveh province, stands by the entrance of one of the tunnels Credit: Getty Images

10 Jihadis plundered many of the smaller treasures, but were unable to move some of the larger ones Credit: Getty Images

Iraqi authorities found 107 items of pottery in a house east of Mosul that were in good condition and most likely exhumed from the tunnels of Nabi Yunus.

Salim Khalaf, an Iraqi Culture Ministry official, said more than 700 archaeological items had been exhumed from the site and sold on the black market.

The jihadi group has carried out a widespread campaign of destruction of archaeological treasures across territory it seized in Iraq and Syria.

10 An Iraqi soldier stands beside some of the ancient stonework that was uncovered in eastern Mosul Credit: Getty Images

10 Layla said the artefacts are very important and have revealed much about Assyrian art Credit: Getty Images

Many shocking scenes were filmed and posted on the internet, such as the destruction of Nimrud – the jewel of the Assyrian empire founded in the 13th century BC.

Jihadis were seen laughing as they destroyed a great number of precious relics with pickaxes, sledgehammers and bulldozers.

The fanatics have also caused incalculable damage to the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, blowing up many of its famous features.

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