Saudi Arabia says the achievement is a big victory against terrorism in the region and the United Kingdom applauded Iraq's security forces "for their courage and sacrifice."
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory in the more than three year fight against IS in a national address aired on Iraqi state television Saturday evening. Sunday was an official holiday in Iraq.
A military parade attended by al-Abadi was held inside Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, a district that houses most of Iraq's government buildings and foreign embassies. In the evening, the capital's skies filled with fireworks.
In Saudi Arabia's statement today, the kingdom reiterated Saudi support for Iraq.
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Several thousand Saudis are believed to have joined the ranks of Sunni extremist groups to fight in Iraq and Syria. However, the kingdom has also been a target of multiple attacks claimed by IS and carried out by local affiliates.
The top US-led coalition commander US Lt Gen Paul E Funk II pledged that coalition forces would continue to support Iraq after the conventional military fight against IS is concluded.
Daesh is an Arabic acronym for IS.
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