The US-led coalition fighting ISIS announced on Monday the end of its main combat operations against the terrorist organization in Iraq.
In a statement, the coalition said its relationship with the Iraqi armed forces would evolve “from supporting and enabling combat operations to the training and development of self-sufficient Iraqi security-related capabilities”.
“The Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command Headquarters was deactivated today at a ceremony in Baghdad, signifying the end of major combat operations against ISIS in Iraq and acknowledging the changing composition and responsibilities of the coalition.”
Brett Mc Gurk, the US envoy to the coalition, tweeted: “From Fallujah to Tikrit, Baiji, Ramadi, Sinjar, Mosul and points in between, our coalition has been proud to stand beside Iraqi forces and (Kurdish) Peshmerga as they liberated their country and 4.5 million fellow citizens from ISIS.”
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi declared victory over ISIS in December, five months after his forces recaptured the country’s second city Mosul from the terrorists.
The group, however, continues to carry out bombings, assassinations and ambushes in different areas of Iraq, and remains active in neighboring Syria.
