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.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Explore More