One of earliest known mosques found in Israeli desert, say experts

Remains thought to be more than 1,200 years old shed light on region's transition from Christianity to Islam, say officials

Israeli archaeologists have unveiled a rare ancient mosque in the country's south that antiquities officials said shed light on the region's transition from Christianity to Islam.

The remains of the mosque, believed to be more than 1,200 years old, were discovered during works to build a new neighbourhood in the Bedouin city of Rahat, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said in a statement.