Iraqi forces push on to Tikrit as Islamic State destroys ancient site

BAGHDAD — Iraqi forces pressed their offensive against the Islamic State group Friday, expecting to reach the outskirts of the militant-held city of Tikrit, a day after the extremists reportedly "bulldozed" a famed archaeological site in the area.

In Paris, the head of the U.N.'s cultural agency said the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage, such as the latest rampage at Iraq's archaeological site of Nimrud, amounts to a "war crime."

The discovery of the treasures of Nimrud's royal tombs in the 1980s is considered one of the 20th century's most significant archaeological finds. It dates back almost 3,000 years and has been compared to King Tutankhamun's tomb in Egypt.

The battle to wrest Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown, from the Islamic State is a major test for the Iraqi forces and allied Shiite militias fighting on their side.

The governor of Salahuddin, Raed al-Jabouri, said that Iraqi forces expect to reach Tikrit later Friday. He said they still have not made it to Tikrit's east airport as some reports have suggested.

Read Saturday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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