Iraqi PM declares victory in 'liberated' Mosul
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory in the “liberated” city of Mosul on Sunday in what his office called "the biggest defeat yet for the Islamic State (IS) group".
"The PM arrived in the liberated city of Mosul and congratulated the heroic fighters and the Iraqi people on the achievement of the major victory,” his office said in a statement.
The announcement comes after a gruelling battle that lasted nearly nine months to retake the northern city from the militants who had been controlling Mosul for three years.
A photo on Abadi's official Twitter account showed him dressed in a black military uniform and cap as he arrived in Mosul to announce the recapture of the city.
Gunfire still audible in Mosul
The fighting did not seem to be completely over yet, with gunfire still audible in Mosul and air strikes hitting the city around the time the premier's office released the statement.