The Trump administration on Monday congratulated the prime minister of Iraq on the liberation of Mosul, the city in northern Iraq that has served as a stronghold for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) since 2014.
“We congratulate Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, the Iraqi Security Forces, and all Iraqis for their victory over terrorists who are the enemies of all civilized people,” President Trump said in a statement.
“We mourn the thousands of Iraqis brutally killed by ISIS and the millions of Iraqis who suffered at the hands of ISIS. We grieve with the Iraqi people for the loss of the heroic soldiers and Peshmerga who gave their lives to restore life to their country, and we honor their sacrifice.”
{mosads}Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also issued a statement congratulating Abadi and mourning the lives lost in the long push to liberate the city.
“This is a critical milestone in the global fight against ISIS, and underscores the success of the international effort led by the Iraqi Security Forces,” Tillerson said.
“Under Iraqi leadership, the United States and our Coalition partners will continue to work closely with the [United Nations] to stabilize liberated areas throughout Mosul, supporting the return of displaced civilians to their homes.”
The statements from Tillerson and Trump come as Iraq on Monday announced “total victory” over ISIS, according to The Associated Press.
Tillerson said more work must be done “to defeat this enemy,” referencing the terrorist group.
“The Global Coalition will continue to stand with our Iraqi partners to ensure that ISIS is defeated wherever it remains in Iraq,” he said.