Iraq says war against ISIS over

Baghdad : Iraq has been liberated from ISIS, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi announced yesterday.

Al Abadi said the war against ISIS was over and Iraq’s forces had regained full control of the border with Syria.

“Our forces are in complete control of the Iraqi-Syrian border and I, therefore, announce the end of the war against ISIS,” Al Abadi announced at the International Media Conference held in Baghdad.

“Our enemy wanted to kill our civilization, but we have won through our unity and our determination. We have triumphed,” said Al Abadi at an event organised by the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate.

“I announce the good news: the liberation by Iraqi forces of the whole of the Iraqi-Syrian border,” he said adding: “In this gathering, I would like to announce that only a couple of hours we ended ISIS In Iraq. Iraqi forces just liberated the island between Naynawa and Alanbar and have fully seized the border between Iraq and Syria.”

ISIS had seized areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, a major threat to the existence of Iraq as a state.

Fighting against ISIS was launched with the backing of an air campaign by a US-led coalition that led to the recapturing of all the towns overrun by ISIS.

For more than three years, Iraqi ground forces closely backed by the US-led coalition re-captured all of that territory. 

Last month Iraqi forces retook the last town held by ISIS - Rawah, near the border with Syria, following which the country’s western deserts were cleared. 

Yesterday’s media conference was attended by more than 200 journalists from all Arab countries.