The Islamic State have released a video in which militants destroy priceless statues and sculptures in a museum in Mosul.

The artifacts were attacked with sledgehammers and pneumatic drills because they were seen as idolatrous.

"The Prophet ordered us to get rid of statues and relics, and his companions did the same when they conquered countries after him," on man heard in the video explained.

Some of the artifacts were identified as being from the 7th century BC.

UNESCO has been working with the governments of Iraq and its neighbours to halt the smuggling of antiquities out of IS-controlled territory. The organisation have been selling artifacts pillaged from museums to fund themselves.