LOC21:25
18:25 GMT
BAGHDAD, May 29 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi said on Monday that victory against the so-called Islamic State (IS) in Mosul would be achieved very soon.
A statement issued by the Iraqi Government quoted Al-Abadi as saying to a group of government troops in Mosul that "the victory declaration has become very soon."
He indicated that units of the pro-government paramilitary forces, Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi, reached some locations on the Iraqi-Syrian borders.
"You are in the last phases in the process of crushing these bands," the premier said in his statement to the troops operating in Mosul.
The premier arrived in the city earlier today and held meetings with field commanders involved in the ongoing operation to wrestle the city from the IS militants.
The government forces, some seven months ago, launched a wide-scale military operation to retake Mosul from the militants. They have retaken large sectors of the city but the IS warriors have remained entrenched in some pockets in its old sector. (end)
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