Iraqi soldiers have retaken an ancient Assyrian city overrun by Islamic State militants two years ago. A military statement said its Ninth Armored Division also liberated the town of Nimrud, which is about one kilometer west of the ruins of the 3,000-year-old city, which was once the capital of the Assyrian empire stretching from Egypt to parts of modern-day Iran and Turkey.

The Iraqi government says Nimrud was bulldozed last year as part of ISIL's campaign to destroy symbols which they consider idolatrous.