Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Tuesday that units of government forces, backed by Shia and Sunni volunteer forces, had managed to retake control of the city.
Later in the day, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham congratulated the courageous victory by Iraq’s army and popular and tribal forces in Salahuddin province, and the cleansing of the city and other important areas in the province of Takfiri terrorists.
“The recent victories are considered a landmark in the process of fighting terrorism in the country and herald the cleansing of Iraq’s other areas in near future,” she said.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has placed atop its agenda its effective and unconditional support for the Iraqi government and people in confronting organized and Takfiri terrorism,” Afkham noted.
In his announcement, Abadi said Iraqi forces had raised the country’s national flag over the Salahuddin provincial government headquarters.
