ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The director of Alqush Museum in Mosul province has warned the Iraqi government that at least 30,000 priceless Christian ancient artifacts are just 20 kilometers away from the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul.

“Since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, we have frequently asked the Iraqi government to help us collect and protect the museum, but no efforts have been made so far,” Josef Yousif, the director of the museum, said. “ISIS militants could destroy the museum as they have done in the Mosul Museum.”

The Alqush Museum is located in the Nineveh Plain to the northeast of the city of Mosul.

“There are all types of ancient items inside the museum ranging from old Christian dresses to ancient scripts,” Yousif added.

Previously, ISIS militants destroyed a collection of priceless Assyrian statues and sculptures dating back thousands of years.

Extremists used sledgehammers and power drills to smash the ancient works as they rampaged through the Mosul Museum.

Iraq and Germany urged all countries earlier in April to support a UN resolution aimed at saving Iraq's ancient cultural heritage from further destruction by ISIS.

Rudaw