Mosul has been under the control of World's deadliest Islamic radicalised terror group ISIS.
But now, Iraqi soldiers are celebrating the defeat of ISIS in Mosul after a long and bloody battle, and the country's jubilant Prime Minister has confirmed it.
The siege has raged for several months as Iraqi troops battled the death cult
The Iraqi army has been engaged in a nine month long siege against the death cult who have refused to budge from their former stronghold.
A massive operation was required to push back the depraved terror group who stormed the city way back in 2014.
The fall of Mosul is a significant milestone in the war against terror as the city was the place where head-jihadi Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared his sick caliphate.
Pictures emerging from inside the city showed soldiers cheering and taking selfies to celebrate ISIS' downfall.
People can be seen embracing and holding the Iraqi flag aloft in a stirring show of national fervour.
“It may take another two or three days,” said an Iraqi observer, "But the Iraqi government is right in saying that the greatest battle in its war against Isis is effectively over."
Iraqi MP Haider al-Abadi arrived in the wartorn region to congratulate forces on the landmark occasion.
He thanked "the heroic fighters and the Iraqi people for the great victory".
The epic siege started 265 days ago on 17 October with no expectation that ISIS would be able to resist for so long in the face of superior numbers and devastating air attacks.
ISIS has now lost 70% of its territory in Iraq, and 51% in Syria against the forces of Operation Inherent Resolve.
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