Iraq’s leader arrived in Mosul to declare victory over the Islamic State group in the more than eight-month old operation.
Iraq’s state TV says the country’s prime minister has arrived in Mosul to declare victory over the Islamic State group in the more than eight-month old operation to drive the militants from the city.
State TV quotes Haider al-Abadi as saying he « congratulates the fighters and the people on the big victory » in the key city.
Dressed in a black uniform of a type worn by Iraqi special forces, al-Abadi was shown on Sunday as descending from a military plane and was greeted by senior security forces commanders.
Backed byU. S.-led coalition, Iraq launched the operation to retake Mosul in October. Iraqi state TV says government forces have drove the militants from all areasand are « chasing » them militants in some areas in the city.
The militants captured Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, in a matter of days in the summer of 2014.
