article_snippet: Locals took to social media to share images of the massive blast, which reduced Mar Benham monastery in Bakhdida to little more than vast piles of rubble.
article_snippet: Up in smoke: Locals took to social media to share images of the massive blast, which reduced the ancient monastery to little more than vast piles of rubble .
article_snippet: Resident monks who live in the building - which is also known as the Monastery of the Martyrs Saint Behnam and his Sister Sarah, and was once visited by thousands of Christians and Muslims every year - were subsequently forced to leave and flee to nearby Christian villages.
article_snippet: The destruction of the religious building was subsequently confirmed by Barzan Sadiq, executive producer at Kurdish Rudaw media network, according to the International Business Times. '
article_snippet: The destruction of the religious building came just days
highlights_snippet: Blast reduced the ancient building to rubble according to local residents .
  