Sputnik - Russia backs the activities of the Iraqi government, aimed at the restoration of country�s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday in the light of full liberation of the Iraqi city of Mosul from Daesh terrorist group, which is banned in Russia and many other countries.





MOSCOW (Sputnik)�� On Sunday, the anti-terrorist unit of�the Iraqi armed forces raised a national flag on�the banks of�the Tigris River in�the historical part of�Mosul. The same day, Iraq's Prime Minister Haider Abadi arrived in�Mosul to�declare the city's liberation from�Daesh jihadists.
�Moscow supports the Iraqi government�s actions aimed at�the restoration of�sovereignty and territorial integrity of�the country. We are sure that the promotion of�the intra-Iraqi national reconciliation with�taking into�account the interests of�all ethno-confessional groups will foster the fight against�terrorism,� the Russian Foreign ministry said in�statement.


Russia considers that the restoration of�government�s control over�Mosul is a major setback for�Daesh in�Iraq.
�The elimination of�the terrorist presence throughout�the country would be a next step forward,� the statement read.


The ministry noted that the liberation of�Mosul was possible thanks to�the courage and fortitude of�the Iraqi military, the people's militia and the Kurdish Peshmerga forces.

The northern Iraqi city of�Mosul, Daesh key stronghold in�the country, had been controlled by�terrorists since�mid-2014. Iraqi troops backed by�the US-led international coalition launched an operation to�recapture the city in�October 2016, with�the eastern part of�the city being liberated in�January. In February, the Iraqi forces began the operation to�liberate western part of�the city.