MOSUL RESIDENTS HOPEFUL AFTER IRAQ DECLARES VICTORY OVER ISIS



MOSUL – Calm prevailed in eastern Mosul on Tuesday (July 11), a day after Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over Islamic State (ISIS) in the city.

Streets were busy with cars and residents were trying to resume their lives.

"God willing, the situation will get better now that we got rid of the world's largest terrorist network and we got rid of its oppression. God willing, we will remove destruction and damage caused by Daesh and normal life will return to the city," Mishaal Ahmed, an engineer from the city said.

Though a few plumes of smoke were visible on the eastern side of the city, the sound of bombings and bursts of gunfire were absent for the first time since the start of the fighting with Islamic State, more than eight months ago.

“We are happy. Streets have been paved and work is on to restore water. The situation is much better than it was under Daesh. Thank God, we got rid of them and we were saved and liberated by the efforts of the brave security forces," Abdul Hammed, another resident of the city said.

The campaign to retake Mosul from the militants was launched in October by a 100,000-strong alliance of Iraqi government units, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and Shi'ite militias, with a U.S.-led coalition providing key air and ground support.


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