BAGHDAD, April 26 (Reuters) - Iraqi paramilitary units dislodged Islamic State from Hatra on Wednesday, driving the militants from an ancient city they damaged during their three-year rule, according to an Iraqi military spokesman. An Iraqi-modified T-72M tank belonging to the pro-government Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary forces advances on April 26, 2017 towards the ancient city of Hatra, southwest of Mosul, during an offensive to retake the area from the Islamic State group (AFP Photo/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE)

Iraqi forces on Thursday retook the town of Hatra, southwest of Mosul, on the third day of an operation that saw them wrest back a nearby UNESCO-listed ancient city, a statement said. Image copyright Reuters Image caption Popular Mobilisation fighters launched an assault on Hatra on Tuesday morning

Possibly founded in the 3rd or 2nd Century BC, it was a religious and trading centre of the Parthian Empire and capital of the first Arab Kingdom. The ancient city is one of the heritage jewels of Iraq and was damaged by IS after they took over large parts of the country three years ago, although the extent of the destruction remains unclear.
The pro-government Popular Mobilization Forces militia takes control of the mostly destroyed ancient city of Hatra in Iraq's Nineveh Governorate, following clashes with ISIL, who seized the ruins in 2014.