ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has delievered a victory speech in 'the heart of the liberated Mosul", congratulating the defeat of ISIS to all Iraqis from all provinces, three years after Iraq's second-largest city fell to ISIS.
"From here, from the heart of the free and liberated Mosul, by the sacrifices of the Iraqis from all the provinces, we announce the awaited victory to all of Iraq, and the Iraqis," Abadi said, surrounded by Iraqi and Kurdish military commanders Monday evening.
"I declare the end, the collapse, and the failure of the false terror state of ISIS," Abadi added.
"This great feast day crowned the victories of the fighters and the Iraqis of the past three years," he continued.
He thanked every country which provided support to the Iraqis in their fight, but maintained that it was an "Iraqi victory" and that no foreign soldiers fought on the ground.
He said it is now time to start rebuilding the war-torn city, and to clear the city from "the ISIS sleeper cells."
He said that Iraq is "more united than it was," while calling for more unity between the people of Iraq.
He finally raised the Iraqi flag , shouting “Long live Iraq.”
PM celebrates victory in Mosul over the ISIS militants on July 10, 2017. Photo: PM media office.
Chief of General Staff of the Peshmerga forces, Jamal Iminiki, stood alongside the Iraqi commanders representing the US-trained Counter Terrorism Service, the Federal Police, and the Iraqi army.
The Global Coalition said that though there are still areas in Old Mosul, west of the Tigris River, that need to be "back-cleared of explosive devices and possible ISIS fighters in hiding," the Iraqi security forces "have Mosul now under their control."
The Coalition added that the "the Iraqi Militia Forces, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and the global Coalition also deserve a share of the credit for their sacrifices to achieve this hard-won victory."
This comes after PM Abadi visited the city’s east and west on Sunday, describing the city as “liberated”, though there were few ISIS remnants in the city’s Old Mosul.
Kurdish president Masoud Barzani phoned Abadi Monday morning to congratulate the “victory” in Mosul which came "as the result of the coordination and cooperation between the Kurdistan Peshmerga and the Iraqi army," a statement from the Kurdish presidency read.
Iraqi security forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga, backed by the US-led Global Coalition against ISIS, launched the largest military operation since the invasion of Iraq in 2003 to liberate Mosul on October 17.
The mainly-Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi then joined the operation, actively liberating areas south and west of Mosul.
Masrour Barzani, Kurdistan’s National Security Chancellor, congratulated the victory, but warned that the country needs a strategy to “win the peace."
I congratulate ISF, Peshmerga and the @coalition for the military victory in Mosul. The country also needs a strategy to win the peace- mb
— Masrour Barzani (@masrour_barzani) July 10, 2017
The Kurdish Peshmerga have announced that they have lost more than 1, 700 Peshmerga fighters in the war against ISIS, and about 10, 000 more have been injured.
The fight for Mosul launched about nine months ago has brutally affected the civilians, forcing more than 900, 000 people to leave their homes, some taking the road to death.
A monitoring group claimed that the number of civilians killed by the coalition in Iraq and Syria where ISIS is present could be more than 12, 000 people, warning though that verifying these reported deaths remains a challenge.
"To June 30th 2017 an overall total of between 12,051 and 17,675 civilian non-combatant fatalities had been alleged from 1,697 separate reported Coalition incidents, in both Iraq and Syria. Of these, Airwars presently estimates that a minimum of 4,354 to 6,722 civilians are likely to have died in Coalition actions. However, some caution is needed given the significant challenges of casualty verification at present," according to the conflict monitor Airwars.
Nineveh Governor Nofal al-Hammam has said that the destruction in west Mosul is 30 times higher than city’s east, liberated in late January after 100 days of fighting.
US Army paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division greet residents of liberated ares in western Mosul on Monday. The United States as part of the global coalition has assisted Iraqi forces with its advise, assist, intelligence and reconnaissance roles.
@USArmy Col. Work, Falcon #Paratrooper & commander, greets residents in a neighborhood that Iraqi forces liberated from #ISIS in west Mosul pic.twitter.com/v5l75DepFM
— 2BCT, 82nd Falcons (@2BCT_FALCONS) July 8, 2017
RETAKING OF MOSUL
Forces of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi overrun Mosul on June 10, 2014
When they threaten Shiite holy sites, Iraq's top Shiite cleric issues a call to arms against the group, bringing a flood of volunteers to militias.
Baghdadi declares ISIS caliphate on July 4, 2014
At the pulpit of the al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared in a 21-minute video his so-called caliphate on July 4, 2014, naming himself “caliph,” leader of the whole Islamic world, seeking to found a new Islamic regime.
“Do jihad in the cause of God, incite the believers and be patient in the face of this hardship,” he said.
The mosque is named for Nur al-Din Mahmoud Zangi, an Islamic Kurdish ruler of Mosul and Aleppo, who had the mosque built in 1172 – 1173. Nur al-Din brought together Muslims in Iraq and Syria to form a united front against the crusaders.
Mosul offensive begins on October 17, 2016
"The hour has come and the moment of great victory is near," said Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in a televised address. "I announce today the start of the operation to liberate the province of Nineveh."
Kurdish President Masoud Barzani was commanding all Peshmerga forces and arrived at the front with Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.
“[At 10 p.m.], Peshmerga forces in Khazir, East of Mosul had achieved their key objectives: clear nine villages and extend control over the Erbil-Mosul Road,” the General Command of the Peshmerga Forces announced at the end of the day.
Video of the Peshmerga breaking through the frontline barriers.
Iraqi forces enter Mosul on November 1, 2016
The Iraqi Joint Operations Command said their forces advanced towards Mosul city centre from the north and southeast, adding that their forces liberated several villages north, southeast, and southwest of Mosul.
Peshmerga liberate Bashiqa on November 11, 2016
The town of Bashiqa came under full control of Peshmerga forces but pockets of ISIS militants remained, only to be killed the days after.
Peshmerga made giant advances in Bashiqa from three directions.
Bashiqa had been surrounded by the Peshmerga for two weeks.
East Mosul declared liberated on January 24
“Security forces liberated the left coast fully today after expelling Daesh and have raised the Iraqi flags over government buildings,” Abadi announced in a press conference, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS.
West Mosul offensive begins on February 19
Addressing the Iraqi forces taking part in the operation, Abadi said, "I have told the world how brave you are and everyone is proud of you, of your success and victory with the people."
Symbolic Al-Nuri Mosque and Minaret destroyed on June 21
ISIS militants destroyed the 845-year-old famed mosque and minaret in west Mosul on June 21. It is where Baghdadi declared his so-called caliphate.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called this "the declaration of the end of the statelet of ISIS" on June 29.
