Assur

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants hammered, bulldozed and ultimately blew up parts of the ancient Iraqi Assyrian city of Nimrud, destroying a site dating back to the 13th century B.C., an online militant video purportedly shows.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the international community on March 8 to halt the destruction by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) of Iraqi archaeological sites, branding the smashing of priceless and ancient artifacts a "war crime".
      

The head of UNESCO has condemned the destruction of the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud in Iraq by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), saying it amounted to a "war crime."

"I condemn with the strongest force the destruction of the site at Nimrud," Irina Bokova said in a statement.        

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has begun bulldozing the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud in Iraq, the government said, in the jihadists' latest attack on the country's historical heritage.
      
IS "assaulted the historic city of Nimrud and bulldozed it with heavy vehicles," the tourism and antiquities ministry said on an official Facebook page on Thursday.

While walking on the beach, when one comes across a sand castle, one would not step on it, but just walk around it.

A person would not even sacrifice a sand castle. Even if it is made of sand, somebody shaped it. It must have its own story.

Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova demanded Thursday that an emergency meeting of the Security Council of the organization is held immediately.

"This attack is far more than a cultural tragedy - this is also a security issue as it fuels sectarianism, violent extremism and conflict in Iraq," UNESCO chief Irina Bokova said in a statement.