Tri-Service

Iraq Declares "Magnificent Victory" Over IS in Tikrit

The Iraqi government has declared a "magnificent victory" over Islamic State (IS) in Tikrit.

The UN has welcomed the news, which has been described as a key step in driving the militants out of their biggest strongholds, as "a victory for all the Iraqi people".

It comes after a month-long offensive that included air strikes on IS positions by a US led-coalition.

Saddam’s Hussein’s birthplace had been in the hands of Islamic State fighters since June last year.

Troops are still fighting to clear the last pockets of IS fighters, but Iraqi television has shown pictures of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi visiting the city.

In a televised statement, al-Abadi said Iraqi forces had seized control of the city and "hoisted the Iraqi flag over the municipal headquarters".

Iraqi defence minister Khalid al-Obeidi, meanwhile, said security forces have "accomplished their mission".

"We have the pleasure, with all our pride, to announce the good news of a magnificent victory," Mr Obeidi said in a video statement.

The battle for Tikrit is seen as a key step toward eventually driving the militants out of Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city.

The city is about 80 miles north of Baghdad and lies on the road connecting the capital to Mosul. Retaking it will give Iraqi forces a major supply link for any future operation against Mosul.

Aziz Jaber, a political science professor at Baghdad's Mustansiriyah University, said retaking Tikrit could be seen as the "beginning of the end" for IS in Iraq.

"Daesh [an Arabic name for IS] was very talented in psychological warfare, but not any more after its defeat in Tikrit," he said. "Now, the morale of the Iraqi forces is high, while that of Daesh is low."

Forces TV's Simon Newton, meanwhile, has more on the UK's military involvement in the fight against IS, from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.