Iraqi prime minister declares 'total victory' in Mosul

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi.
(Image credit: Carsten Koall/Getty Images)

On Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced "total victory for Iraq and all Iraqis" over the Islamic State in Mosul. Some areas of the city must still be "back-cleared of explosive devices and possible ISIS fighters in hiding," al-Abadi said, but Mosul is "now firmly under" Iraq's control.

ISIS has occupied Iraq's largest city for three years, forcing 1 million of the city's 2.5 million people to flee. Iraqi forces began battling to retake the city last October, a fight that's resulted in a high number of civilian and military casualties and the destruction of several landmarks.

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