Iraq inaugurated the Hatra International Festival at the archaeological site of Hatra in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh, marking its return after a hiatus since 2003.

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid said at the opening ceremony that the return of the festival "is a message to the world demonstrating the archaeological sites that Iraq possesses despite what was destroyed and ruined at the hands of the terrorist Islamic State (IS) group during its control of Nineveh province."

He said the government is committed to preserving archaeological sites across Iraq, hoping that the festival will be held annually without interruption in the years to come.

During the opening ceremony, traditional fashion shows, folk dances, and historical costumes showcasing the story of Hatra were presented.

Iraq had organized three editions of the Hatra International Festival before 2003. However, the festival was halted due to the chaos following the U.S.-led invasion, particularly during the period when the IS group controlled Nineveh province from mid-2014 to mid-2017.

Renowned for its high walls full of inscriptions and watchtowers dotted around the fortified city, the over 2,000-year-old Hatra archaeological site, about 110 km southwest of Mosul, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985, the first site of its kind in Iraq.

In 2015, the Hatra archaeological site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to the damage caused by IS militants. 

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