ISIS Destroys Assyrian Churches, Hostages Still Being Held

ISIS members destroying the St. George Chaldean Catholic Monastery in Mosul, Iraq (photo: ISIS twitter). (AINA) -- ISIS has posted pictures, on its twitter accounts, of its members destroying the St. George Monastery in Mosul. The pictures show ISIS members using sledgehammers to smash crosses and icons, and removing the cross from the dome and replacing it with the black ISIS flag.

ISIS captured Mosul on June 10, 2014 and immediately destroyed or occupied all 45 Assyrian churches and other religious institutions in the city.

See Church Bombings in Iraq Since 2004

ISIS also destroyed Assyrian archaeological sites, including the walls of Nineveh and the cities of Nimrud and Khorsabad.

In Syria ISIS attacked 35 Assyrian villages in the Hasaka region, capturing at least 300 Assyrians and destroying at least 5 churches, including the church in Tel Hurmiz, one of the oldest churches in Syria, the Mar Bisho church in Tel Shamiran, the church in Qabr Shamiy and the church in Tel Baloua.

After two days of heavy clashes Assyrian and Kurdish forces regained the Assyrian villages of Tel Mighas and Tel Misas. The Church of St. George in Tel Maghas was ransacked by ISIS, who burned the bibles and broke its cross. This church has been liberated and is now under the control of Assyrian and Kurdish fighters.

Hostages still being held

ISIS is still holding 52 Assyrian families, nearly 300 people, who were captured in the initial attacks on February 23. No progress has been made in the negotiations for their release in the last three days.

St. George Chaldean Catholic Monastery, Mosul Iraq

ISIS members destroying the St. George Chaldean Catholic Monastery in Mosul, Iraq (photo: ISIS twitter). ISIS members destroying the St. George Chaldean Catholic Monastery in Mosul, Iraq (photo: ISIS twitter). ISIS members destroying the St. George Chaldean Catholic Monastery in Mosul, Iraq (photo: ISIS twitter). ISIS members destroying the St. George Chaldean Catholic Monastery in Mosul, Iraq (photo: ISIS twitter). ISIS members destroying the St. George Chaldean Catholic Monastery in Mosul, Iraq (photo: ISIS twitter). ISIS members destroying the St. George Chaldean Catholic Monastery in Mosul, Iraq (photo: ISIS twitter). ISIS members destroying the St. George Chaldean Catholic Monastery in Mosul, Iraq (photo: ISIS twitter). ISIS members destroying the St. George Chaldean Catholic Monastery in Mosul, Iraq (photo: ISIS twitter). ISIS members destroying the St. George Chaldean Catholic Monastery in Mosul, Iraq (photo: ISIS twitter). ISIS members destroying the St. George Chaldean Catholic Monastery in Mosul, Iraq (photo: ISIS twitter). ISIS members destroying the St. George Chaldean Catholic Monastery in Mosul, Iraq (photo: ISIS twitter). ISIS members destroying the St. George Chaldean Catholic Monastery in Mosul, Iraq (photo: ISIS twitter). ISIS members destroying the St. George Chaldean Catholic Monastery in Mosul, Iraq (photo: ISIS twitter).

St. George in Tel Maghas, Syria

St. George in Tel Maghas, Syria, which was ransacked by ISIS and is now under Assyrian control (photo: facebook).

St. George in Tel Maghas, Syria, which was ransacked by ISIS and is now under Assyrian control (photo: facebook).

St. George in Tel Maghas, Syria, which was ransacked by ISIS and is now under Assyrian control (photo: facebook).