DUBAI, UAE — As Mosul residents work to restore their city's historical and cultural heritage sites after years of damage at the hands of the Islamic State (ISIS), during their three-year reign, one of the most prominent efforts is the reconstruction of the landmark Great al-Nuri Mosque and its iconic leaning minaret, al-Hadba, which is nearing completion.

The minaret, which stands at 40 meters tall, has seven levels. Restoration work on the seventh and final level is complete, while the balcony and finial above remain under construction. The entire restoration is expected to be completed in the coming days.

Nooruddin Abbas, a local coppersmith, shared his excitement after crafting the new crescent for al-Hadba. 

“I participated in rebuilding al-Hadba Minaret, the symbol of my city, Mosul, and its ancient heritage," Abbas told The New Region on Wednesday. "I have carried on my family’s legacy as a coppersmith for 30 years, and now I have completed crafting the new crescent that will again crown the Great al-Nuri Mosque’s minaret."

“I made it from red copper, just like the original crescent. It’s resistant to heat and cold, weighs 35 kilograms, and is two meters long,” he added.

Abbas said he felt proud to help revive Mosul’s history and heritage. 

“As a native of Mosul, I am ready to work for free to restore my city’s landmarks and see its minaret shine again,” he said.

The minaret, named for its distinctive eastward tilt, is the most famous part of the Great al-Nuri Mosque. Dating back more than nine centuries, the minaret is the only surviving part of the mosque’s original structure, which Nur ad-Din Zangi built in the 12th century.

The Great al-Nuri Mosque is the second-oldest in Mosul, built after the Umayyad Mosque. It had undergone several restorations in the past, with the most recent in 1944. However, ISIS destroyed it in 2017 during the battle to retake from the clutches of the extremist group.

The landmark sits in the Old City neighborhood on the eastern bank of Mosul. The Old City bore the brunt of deadly and devastating clashes during the nine-month-long battle to reclaim the city.

Abu Bakir al-Baghdadi, the former leader of ISIS announced his caliphate from the Great al-Nuri's pulpit on July 4, 2014, over a month after they took over Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city.