Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi hails ‘big victory’ over Islamic State even as fighting continues and civilians count cost
IS militants who remain trapped in just a few hundred metres of territory in the Old City are now in a ‘fight to the death’
Iraq’s prime minister on Tuesday congratulated his fighters on “the big victory in Mosul” – even as fighting with Islamic State (IS) militants continued in Mosul’s Old City neighbourhood where Iraqi forces are about 250 metres from the Tigris River and facing increasingly fierce resistance.
Haidar al-Abadi spoke during a press conference in Baghdad, less than a week after he declared an end to IS’ self-styled caliphate after Iraqi forces achieved an incremental win by retaking the landmark al-Nuri Mosque in the Old City.
“Praise be to God, we managed to liberate [Mosul] and proved the others were wrong, the people of Mosul supported and stood with our security forces against terrorism,” Abadi said.
He made his remarks on the third anniversary of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s sermon at the al-Nuri Mosque, from where he declared an Islamic caliphate on IS-held lands in Syria and Iraq.
Also during the press conference, Abadi added that he has given instructions to rebuild and stabilise areas of the city already freed from the militant group.