The clock tower of the Dominican Mission Church in Mosul, built in the 1870s, was a gift from Empress Eugenie of France. The ancient city is almost 3,000 years old and has historically been important for trading. Located in northern Iraq near the borders of Syria and Turkey, it's situated on the Tigris river and set amid rich oil fields.
The clock tower of the Dominican Mission Church in Mosul, built in the 1870s, was a gift from Empress Eugenie of France. The ancient city is almost 3,000 years old and has historically been important for trading. Located in northern Iraq near the borders of Syria and Turkey, it's situated on the Tigris river and set amid rich oil fields.
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This print of Mosul is from the 1930s, when Iraq was a kingdom occupied by the British.
This print of Mosul is from the 1930s, when Iraq was a kingdom occupied by the British.
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Among the many activities on the Tigris River in Mosul was wool washing.
Among the many activities on the Tigris River in Mosul was wool washing.
Library of Congress
The souks, or markets, of Mosul hummed with activity every day.
The souks, or markets, of Mosul hummed with activity every day.
Library of Congress
The famous leaning minaret of Mosul's 12th-century Great Mosque of al-Nuri towers in the background of this photo taken in the 1930s.
The famous leaning minaret of Mosul's 12th-century Great Mosque of al-Nuri towers in the background of this photo taken in the 1930s.
Library of Congress
Lady Surma was the sister of the patriarch of the Assyrian Christian church in Mosul and became an ambassador for her people.
Lady Surma was the sister of the patriarch of the Assyrian Christian church in Mosul and became an ambassador for her people.
Library of Congress
The British writer Agatha Christie arrived at this railway station in Mosul. Agatha Christie spent time in Mosul in the early 1950s while her husband, the archaeologist Max Mallowan, excavated the ancient site of Nimrud.
The British writer Agatha Christie arrived at this railway station in Mosul. Agatha Christie spent time in Mosul in the early 1950s while her husband, the archaeologist Max Mallowan, excavated the ancient site of Nimrud.
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Two women look out over the Tigris from the 12th-century Bashtabiya Castle, a big part of Mosul's identity. ISIS destroyed the castle last year, according to the Iraqi Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Two women look out over the Tigris from the 12th-century Bashtabiya Castle, a big part of Mosul's identity. ISIS destroyed the castle last year, according to the Iraqi Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Vivienne Sharp/Heritage Images/Getty Images
President Saddam Hussein waves to supporters from the balcony of the mayor's office in Mosul on a trip to see how farmers were faring under international sanctions.
President Saddam Hussein waves to supporters from the balcony of the mayor's office in Mosul on a trip to see how farmers were faring under international sanctions.
INA/AFP/Getty Images
A boy begs for money in 1996. By then, Iraq was reeling under punishing international sanctions and widespread corruption.
A boy begs for money in 1996. By then, Iraq was reeling under punishing international sanctions and widespread corruption.
Jean Gaumy/Magnum Photos
The mosque of the prophet Yunus (Arabic for Jonah from the Bible) stood on one of the two most prominent mounds of Nineveh's ruins and served at one time as an Assyrian Church. It contained Jonah's tomb and was destroyed by ISIS in 2014.
The mosque of the prophet Yunus (Arabic for Jonah from the Bible) stood on one of the two most prominent mounds of Nineveh's ruins and served at one time as an Assyrian Church. It contained Jonah's tomb and was destroyed by ISIS in 2014.
Jean Gaumy/Magnum Photos
In this 2001 photo, a man stands before the Great Mosque's minaret, which leans like the Tower of Pisa and is nicknamed "al-Habda," or "the hunchback."
In this 2001 photo, a man stands before the Great Mosque's minaret, which leans like the Tower of Pisa and is nicknamed "al-Habda," or "the hunchback."
Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images
Kurds mingle with the crowds in central Mosul in 2002, just a few months before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
Kurds mingle with the crowds in central Mosul in 2002, just a few months before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images
Children at a school in Mosul in 2002. ISIS developed its own curriculum after it took control of the city in 2014.
Children at a school in Mosul in 2002. ISIS developed its own curriculum after it took control of the city in 2014.
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Crowds gathered in Mosul in February 2003 to protest US threats of invasion.
Crowds gathered in Mosul in February 2003 to protest US threats of invasion.
Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images
Kurdish children play on a broken ferris wheel in Mosul, a month before the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Kurdish children play on a broken ferris wheel in Mosul, a month before the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Yuri Kozyrev/Noor
A teenage boy tends to a herd of sheep on the outskirts of Mosul in 2003.
A teenage boy tends to a herd of sheep on the outskirts of Mosul in 2003.
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The lake in Saddam Hussein's palace was off-limits to Mosul's ordinary citizens until the dictator was toppled in April 2003.
The lake in Saddam Hussein's palace was off-limits to Mosul's ordinary citizens until the dictator was toppled in April 2003.
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The University of Mosul is the second-largest in Iraq and boasted a rich tradition of learning. ISIS militants destroyed thousands of books and manuscripts housed at the university and developed a new curriculum.
The University of Mosul is the second-largest in Iraq and boasted a rich tradition of learning. ISIS militants destroyed thousands of books and manuscripts housed at the university and developed a new curriculum.
Philippe Desmazes/AFP/Getty Images
Fierce clashes erupted in Mosul in the summer of 2003, and US soldiers found themselves in the midst of urban warfare.
Fierce clashes erupted in Mosul in the summer of 2003, and US soldiers found themselves in the midst of urban warfare.
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Iraqi police patrolled the city in 2005.
Iraqi police patrolled the city in 2005.
Thomas Dworzak/Magnum Photos
This children's clothing factory in Mosul was operating after reconstruction efforts in 2007.
This children's clothing factory in Mosul was operating after reconstruction efforts in 2007.
Thomas Dworzak/Magnum Photos
Moslawis walk past trash strewn about a busy market area in Mosul in 2009.
Moslawis walk past trash strewn about a busy market area in Mosul in 2009.
Maya Alleruzzo/AP
ISIS fighters parade down a main road in a commandeered Iraqi security forces vehicle after the militant group took control of Mosul in June 2014.
ISIS fighters parade down a main road in a commandeered Iraqi security forces vehicle after the militant group took control of Mosul in June 2014.
AP
ISIS destroyed ancient Christian shrines and churches like this 13th-century church in the Assyrian town of Telskuf, not far from Mosul in the Nineveh plains.
ISIS destroyed ancient Christian shrines and churches like this 13th-century church in the Assyrian town of Telskuf, not far from Mosul in the Nineveh plains.
Peter van Agtmael/Magnum Photos
Iraqis displaced from ISIS-controlled towns and villages take shelter at this camp in Qayyarah, a few miles south of Mosul. Aid workers warn an assault on Mosul could trigger an exodus of catastrophic dimensions.
Iraqis displaced from ISIS-controlled towns and villages take shelter at this camp in Qayyarah, a few miles south of Mosul. Aid workers warn an assault on Mosul could trigger an exodus of catastrophic dimensions.
Yunus Keles/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images