Iraqi VP Hails Iran’s Pioneering Role in Anti-ISIL Fight

“Iran pioneered in providing help for Iraq to fight the ISIL terrorists,” al-Maliki said.

The Iraqi vice-president pointed to the liberation of Mosul city, and said recapturing Mosul was a firm response to all conspiracies, sectarian and terrorist plots in the region.

Mosul fell in June 2014, when the ISIL in an attack took control of the city. Iraqi forces launched the operation to retake Mosul on October 16, 2016.

The Eastern part of Mosul was recaptured from the ISIL in about three months and the most populated part of the city, known as the Old City of Mosul, in the western bank of Tigris River was liberated in recent days.

Iraq and Syria have been targeted by the ISIL terrorist group and other extremist groups supported by West and some regional counties.