Iraq Declares Victory Over Islamic State

Iraq has declared victory over Islamic State (IS) militants, saying the last remnants of the extremist group have been driven from the country three years after it captured large swaths of Iraqi territory.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said on December 9 that that Iraq has "completely liberated" the country.

"Our enemy wanted to kill our civilization, but we have won through our unity and our determination," Abadi said of the three-year effort to dislodge IS.

"All Iraqi lands are liberated from terrorist [IS] gangs and our forces completely control the international Iraqi-Syrian border," General Abdul-Amir Rahid Yar Allah said in a statement.

In 2014, IS seized about one-third of the country. In response, the government, backed by a U.S.-led international coalition, launched a campaign against them.

The United States later on December 9 praised...