Iraq sees end to ‘caliphate’ as Mosul mosque recaptured

In Iraq, security forces have recaptured the site of the destroyed Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul after driving back from Islamic State militants.

Iraq declared the Islamic State group’s “caliphate” was coming to an end after it recaptured Mosul’s iconic Nuri mosque, three years to the day after it was proclaimed by the jihadists. IS Militants blew up the mosque and its landmark leaning minaret last week.

The mosque is of great symbolic importance to both sides because Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi made his only public appearance as IS leader there days after the jihadist group proclaimed the creation of a “caliphate” exactly three years ago.