Iraq holds military parade to celebrate victory over Islamic State; Haider al-Abadi declares national holiday on 10 Dec

Baghdad: An Iraqi military parade celebrating final victory over Islamic State is underway in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, an Iraqi military spokesman told Reuters on Sunday. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared final victory over Islamic State on Saturday after Iraqi forces drove its last remnants from the country, three years after the militant group captured about a third of Iraq’s territory. [caption id=“attachment_4251889” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Military planes fly during Iraqi military parade in Baghdad. Reuters[/caption] Iraqi forces recaptured the last areas still under Islamic State control along the border with Syria and secured the western desert, Abadi said, thus marking the end of the war against the militants. His announcement comes two days after the Russian military announced the defeat of the militants in neighbouring Syria, where Moscow is backing Syrian government forces. Abadi declared 10 December an annual national holiday. The parade was not being broadcast live and only state media was allowed to attend, but several squadrons of Iraqi helicopters flew over Baghdad on Saturday carrying Iraqi flags in an rehearsal for the victory parade. Fighter jets were seen and heard flying over Baghdad’s skies on Sunday.