Haider al-Abadi, Prime Minister of Iraq, on 8 July 2017 declared the full liberation of Mosul and reclaim the city after three years of ISIL control.
The success was achieved after nine months of bitter fighting to displace the extremist group from the city where it proclaimed its caliphate.
Abadi travelled to Islamic State to formally reclaim the devastated city.
Mosul is a major city in northern Iraq.
The city stands on the west bank of the Tigris, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank.
It had been under the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant since June 2014.
Since October 2016, the city has been a site of a military operation to dislodge and defeat militant forces.
The Battle of Mosul, a military offensive to retake the city begun in October 2016, is the largest deployment of Iraqi forces since the 2003 invasion by US and coalition forces.
Battle of Mosul: Know More- Battle of Mosul, dubbed as “We Are Coming, Nineveh” began on 16 October 2016.
- It commenced with forces besieging ISIL-controlled areas in the Nineveh Governorate surrounding Mosul.
- The battle was the world’s single largest military operation in nearly 15 years.
- On 1 November 2016, Iraqi Special Operations Forces entered the city from the east.
- The advance into the city was slowed by elaborate defenses and by the presence of civilians.
- However, the Iraqi Prime Minister declared “full liberation of eastern side of Mosul” on 24 January 2017.
- On 19 February 2017, Iraqi troops began their offensive to recapture western Mosul.
- On 1 March 2017, it was announced that the Iraqi Army had taken control of the last major road to western Mosul.
- On 9 March 2017, Iraqi forces reached the Grand Mosque of al-Nuri from where al-Baghdadi had made a declaration of a “caliphate”.
- On 3-4 May 2017, Iraqi forces fought to recapture the Old City area, tightening their control around the al-Nuri Mosque.
