Oddly enough, Saddam loved the pre-islamic history of Iraq. He rebuilt Ur and Babylon to his glory, but did what is, in Archaeology, a Mortal Sin.
He DID NOT delineate the ancient ruins from restoration with a LINE of demarcation.
So, what were Ancient Ruins became modern vanities for Saddam.
Unfortunately, ISIS does not make the distinction and destroys everything, modern or ancient.