Baghdad, July 9  – Iraq's Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities announced the recovery of 181 valuable antiquities smuggled from various countries, including the United States. China's state media Xinhua reported this information on Tuesday.

The recovered artifacts include a bronze statue and eight metal boxes containing ancient skeletons, according to Iraq's culture ministry. These items were originally smuggled to Los Angeles from the Nimrud archaeological site in Nineveh province during the 1990s.

This recovery follows Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani's request for the return of these artifacts during his visit to the United States in April.

In addition to these recent recoveries, the ministry has previously announced the return of numerous artifacts smuggled to countries such as Jordan, Norway, Germany, and Britain.

The looting and destruction of Iraq's antiquities have been significant issues, especially following the U.S. invasion in 2003, which saw many archaeological sites and valuable artifacts damaged or taken.

This recent recovery marks an important step in Iraq's ongoing efforts to reclaim its cultural heritage and preserve its rich history.