The grandson of the late founder of the Islamic Republic has hailed the liberation of the Iraqi city of Mosul from the occupation of Daesh terrorist group after three years.
In a message on social networking website Instagram Ayatollah Seyyed Hassan Khomeini extended his congratulations to Muslims Ummah, saying liberation of the biggest Daesh-controlled city in Iraq has been a glad-tiding for all Muslims.
The internationally-reputed scholar added that pure Muahmmadan (PBUH) Islam seeks wisdom and dignity for the mankind, and has distanced itself from any type of ignorance or sectarian strife. He also contgradulated all those who contributed to this victory.
Earlier Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also hailed the liberation of the Iraqi city of Mosul. In a message to Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Friday, the Iranian president extended his congratulations to him and the Iraqi nation over the “liberation of the biggest Daesh-controlled city in Iraq” and the breaking free from the “yoke of crime and violence” that had been unprecedented in recent centuries.
The Iranian president noted that this great victory was achieved thanks to cooperation, coordination, dedication and struggle by the Iraqi people, army soldiers and Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), commonly known as Hashd al-Sha'abi, backed by neighboring countries.
Rouhani added that the major victory “shows the significance of a genuine fight against those criminals who cruelly displayed violence and murder in the name of Islam.”
He expressed the Islamic Republic’s readiness to continue with the all-out fight against these criminals across the Middle East.
The Iraqi army recaptured the venue of the iconic mosque on Thursday, with the country’s state TV implying the liberation of the city, which has been under the control of the terrorist group since 2014.
Iraqi government forces are nearing the end of their eight-month campaign to capture the de-facto capital of Daesh in Iraq.
In a statement on Thursday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced an end to Daesh's "state of falsehood" following the recapture of the historical Grand al-Nuri Mosque at the heart of the city of Mosul.
"The return of al-Nuri Mosque and al-Hadba minaret to the fold of the nation marks the end of the Daesh state of falsehood," Abadi said in a statement on Thursday.
Iraqi forces, he said, would continue to hunt Daesh elements "to kill them and detain them, down to the last one.”