Iraq's Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities has repatriated 181 smuggled artifacts, including a bronze figurine and ancient skeletons from Nimrud.

The artifacts were smuggled to the United States in the 1990s and are part of ongoing efforts to recover national treasures.

Countries involved in the repatriation include Jordan, Norway, Germany, Britain, with the U.S. returning most relics after a visit by the Prime Minister.

Switzerland and Japan are expected to return additional artifacts this month.

The Foreign Minister handed over the artifacts in a ceremony in Baghdad, marking a significant step in safeguarding Iraq's historical legacy.

Iraq, with nearly 25,000 known archaeological sites, has faced looting and vandalism since the 2003 US invasion and the rise of ISIS in 2014.

Efforts to retrieve missing archaeological relics continue in Iraq, a country considered the cradle of civilization.