DHAAK: Islamic State militants have destroyed ruins at the ancient city of Hatra, Iraqi officials say.

A tourism and antiquities ministry official said the extent of the damage at the Unesco world heritage site was unclear, but he had received reports that it had been demolished.

Hatra was founded in the days of the Parthian Empire over 2,000 years ago.

Militants have recently bulldozed ruins at the Assyrian city of Nimrud and destroyed museum artefacts in Mosul.

IS, which controls large areas of Iraq and Syria, says shrines and statues are ‘false idols’ that have to be smashed.

Unesco condemned the destruction of the ancient city and said that it showed the ‘contempt’ that IS has for the history and heritage of the Arab people.

‘The destruction of Hatra marks a turning point in the appalling strategy of cultural cleansing under way in Iraq,’ said Unesco head Irina Bokova in a statement, reports the BBC.

Hatra, located about 110km south-west of Mosul, was a fortified city that withstood invasions by the Romans thanks to its thick walls reinforced by towers.

It is home to numerous temples and sculptures dedicated to gods including Apollo and Poseidon.

Said Mamuzini, a Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) local official, said the militants had used explosives to blow up buildings and were bulldozing other sections.

‘The city of Hatra is very big and many artefacts of that era were protected inside the site,’ he said, adding that the militants had already taken away gold and silver.

BDST: 1212 HRS, MAR 08, 2015