Iraqi Prime Minister Declares 'Complete Victory' Over ISIS in Mosul

Haider al-Abadi, the Prime Minister of Iraq, returned to the city of Mosul on Monday evening, July 10, and announced a 'complete victory' in the battle against the Islamic State militants or ISIS. This victory was announced amid expectations that clashes with ISIS would continue in other parts of Iraq. The press office of the Iraqi Prime Minister tweeted that Mr. Abadi made this announcement from the anti-terrorism operations room. In his statement, Haider al-Abadi said: 'Our victory today is a victory against darkness, a victory against savagery and terrorism, and I announce to the whole world the end, defeat, and collapse of the terrorist group of the rule of superstition (ISIS).' The Prime Minister of Iraq had visited Mosul on Sunday to congratulate Iraqi forces on reclaiming Mosul from ISIS after nearly nine months of battle. The al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul witnessed the announcement of the Islamic caliphate by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, in 2014, which shocked the Middle East and Western countries, according to Reuters. The recapture of Mosul in northern Iraq by the country's military and militias comes three years after the city was seized by ISIS. Just hours before the Iraqi Prime Minister's statement on Monday evening, the Associated Press reported heavy fighting in Mosul. Iraqi forces, with the support of the United States, began operations to retake Mosul last October and had recently trapped several hundred ISIS militants in an area of less than one kilometer. Meanwhile, the United Nations stated that despite recent progress in driving ISIS out of Mosul, there is no prospect for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Iraq. In a statement released on Monday, the organization noted that thousands of Mosul residents are likely to remain displaced due to 'the severe damage this city has sustained in the war.' The statement added: Airstrikes, shelling, and militant bombings have destroyed thousands of buildings and infrastructure in Mosul. According to the Associated Press, the Iraqi Interior Minister stated that more than half of the buildings in western Mosul, which witnessed the fiercest fighting, have been damaged or destroyed. Since the beginning of the Mosul recapture operation, more than 800,000 residents of the city have been displaced.