U.S.-led coalition announces end of major operations against Islamic State in Iraq
U.S. Army soldiers stand next to a guided-missile launcher, a few miles from the frontline, in the village of Abu Ghaddur, east of Tal Afar, Iraq. AP
Baghdad (Iraqinews.com) – The U.S.-led international coalition announced on Monday the end of its combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and deactivation of its land forces command headquarters.
In a statement on its official website, the international coalition said, “Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command (CJFLCC) Headquarters was deactivated today at a ceremony in Baghdad,” signifying the end of major combat operations against IS in Iraq and acknowledging the changing composition and responsibilities of the coalition.
CJFLCC was responsible for the coalition land force operations in support of the Iraqi security force during the campaign to defeat IS in Iraq and liberate more than 4.5 million Iraqis from the group’s brutal control.
Spokesman for Iraqi security forces Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool Abdullah said the CJFLCC has been an integral part of the Iraqi troops’ success in the fight against IS.
“The commitment and professionalism of all the men and women from all the Coalition nations has been of the highest order, and Iraq is immensely grateful for their sacrifice and dedication in this task,” Yahya said.
For his part, Brett Mc Gurk, the U.S. envoy to the coalition, tweeted: “From Falluja to Tikrit, Baiji, Ramadi, Sinjar, Mosul and points in between, our coalition has been proud to stand beside Iraqi forces and (Kurdish) Peshmerga as they liberated their country and 4.5 million fellow citizens from ISIS (Islamic State).”