Iraq declared victory against the IS group in Mosul on Sunday after a gruelling months-long campaign, dealing the biggest defeat yet to the group. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi’s office said he was in “liberated” Mosul to congratulate “the heroic fighters and the Iraqi people on the achievement of the major victory”.
The announcement comes after months of heavy fighting that have left Iraq’s second city in ruins and forced tens of thousands from their homes. The fighting did not seem to be completely over, with gunfire still audible in Mosul and air strikes hitting the city around the time the premier’s office released its statement.
But Abadi’s arrival had been expected for days as a signal of the end of the battle for the city.
Photographs released by his office showed the premier dressed in a black military uniform and cap, shaking hands with police and army officers as he arrived in the city.
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