Nineveh Governorate
Post-ISIS reconstruction progressing with Al-Nuri Mosque rebuilt and airport reopened, while Christian and minority communities remain largely displaced.
Nineveh embodies Iraq's reconstruction imperative—a governorate whose capital Mosul endured three years of Islamic State occupation followed by nine months of house-to-house liberation combat that left 80% of the historic Old City destroyed. The 10th anniversary of ISIS's June 2014 capture passed in 2024 with reconstruction still incomplete, yet tangible progress emerging from the ruins.
UNESCO's 'Revive the Spirit of Mosul' initiative, funded by $50 million from the UAE, has rebuilt landmarks including the Al-Nuri Mosque whose destruction ISIS broadcast worldwide. The mosque reopened in late 2024. Al-Saa'a Church held its first mass in January 2024 after complete reconstruction. Yet Christian populations have not returned at scale—only 50 families remain in a city that housed hundreds of thousands of Christians two decades ago.
Infrastructure restoration extends beyond heritage sites. Al-Hamdaniya General Hospital, rebuilt by USAID, is now considered one of Iraq's best facilities with 1,800 employees. Mosul Airport resumed commercial flights after years of military-only operation. The Emergency Operation for Development Project reaches over 5 million residents across five ISIS-affected governorates including Nineveh.
Social reconstruction proves more complex than physical rebuilding. Returnees with perceived ISIS connections face stigma and exclusion. Religious and ethnic minorities who fled genocide remain hesitant to return despite improved security. By 2026, expect continued infrastructure progress, heritage site completion, and slow demographic recovery as displaced populations gradually test whether return is viable.