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| Iraqi PM congratulates military on ‘victory’ over ISIS in Mosul | Iraqi PM congratulates military on ‘victory’ over ISIS in Mosul |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has arrived in Mosul to congratulate the country’s security forces on their “great victory” in liberating the city from Islamic State terrorists after an eight-month-long operation. | Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has arrived in Mosul to congratulate the country’s security forces on their “great victory” in liberating the city from Islamic State terrorists after an eight-month-long operation. |
| “The commander in chief of the armed forces, Haider al-Abadi, arrived in the liberated city of Mosul and congratulated the heroic fighters and Iraqi people for the great victory,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement on Sunday. | “The commander in chief of the armed forces, Haider al-Abadi, arrived in the liberated city of Mosul and congratulated the heroic fighters and Iraqi people for the great victory,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement on Sunday. |
| State TV showed Abadi getting out of a military plane in a black Iraqi Special forces uniform, AP reported. | State TV showed Abadi getting out of a military plane in a black Iraqi Special forces uniform, AP reported. |
| Some Iraqi troops were seen dancing in the streets and on top of their tanks, celebrating the liberation of the city from the jihadists. | |
| However, Reuters reported that airstrikes and gunfire could still be heard in Mosul’s Old City at the time when Abadi made his announcement. | |
| Despite the congratulations, the prime minister has yet to make a formal declaration announcing the full liberation of Mosul. | |
| French President Emmanuel Macron took to Twitter on Sunday to congratulate Iraq, as well as members of the US-led coalition involved in the Mosul operation, on the victory | French President Emmanuel Macron took to Twitter on Sunday to congratulate Iraq, as well as members of the US-led coalition involved in the Mosul operation, on the victory |
| “Mosul liberated from ISIS: France pays homage to all those who, alongside our troops, contributed to this victory,” Macron wrote. | |
| In late June, Abadi proclaimed that the “state of falsehood” created by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) had ended. | In late June, Abadi proclaimed that the “state of falsehood” created by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) had ended. |
| The announcement followed the recapture of the ruins of the historic al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul, which had been blown up by the terrorists. | The announcement followed the recapture of the ruins of the historic al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul, which had been blown up by the terrorists. |
| At that time, Abadi promised to continue pursuing IS militants “to kill them and detain them, down to the last one.” | At that time, Abadi promised to continue pursuing IS militants “to kill them and detain them, down to the last one.” |
| The operation to liberate Mosul, which had been Islamic State’s de-facto capital in Iraq since 2014, began eight months ago with the backing of US-led coalition warplanes and special forces. | The operation to liberate Mosul, which had been Islamic State’s de-facto capital in Iraq since 2014, began eight months ago with the backing of US-led coalition warplanes and special forces. |
| Heavy urban fighting has led to the deaths of thousands of people and left most of the city in ruins and over a million residents displaced. | Heavy urban fighting has led to the deaths of thousands of people and left most of the city in ruins and over a million residents displaced. |
| Over the course of the campaign, the US-led coalition forces have been criticized over Mosul bombing campaign. | Over the course of the campaign, the US-led coalition forces have been criticized over Mosul bombing campaign. |
| On Thursday, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Iraq, Lise Grande, said that over 8,000 civilians have been killed or wounded in Mosul. | |
| According to UN estimates, 915,000 Mosul residents have been displaced and the vast majority have not yet returned to their homes, she added. | |
| Of Mosul’s 44 residential neighborhoods, six have been nearly completely destroyed, 22 were moderately damaged, and 16 lightly damaged, Grande said. |