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BAGHDAD, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces recaptured a strategic airbase in south of the Islamic State (IS) stronghold in Mosul, an important step in the operations to liberate Mosul, a security source and government statement said.
The security forces, backed by U.S. advisors, freed the 30-square kilometers of al-Qayyara airbase, which located some 20 km south of the IS-held town of Qayyara after the IS militants fled the scene without resistance, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
The once known as Saddam airbase, is one of the largest airbase in the Middle East region and was widely used by the former Iraqi airforce during the Iraqi-Iranian war in 1980s.
The airbase, which located some 70 km south of Mosul, is vital for the Iraqi security forces and aircraft in the coming battles that aimed to free the northern city of Mosul, some 400 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.
For his part, Abadi, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of Iraqi forces, hailed the liberation of the airbase and considered it as an important step for the operations to free Mosul, according to a statement issued by his office.
Abadi also called on the residents in Mosul to get ready to liberate their city from IS militants, saying "as we have eliminate Daesh (IS militants) in Fallujah, who fled like rats to the desert, we will eliminate them in Mosul."
The liberation of Qayyara airbase is part of a major offensive to free areas in south of Mosul, including the town of Qayyara, so as to surround Mosul from the south and east, before attacking major IS strongholds in Mosul to flush out IS militants from the city.
Iraq has witnessed intense violence since the IS took control of parts of its northern and western regions in June 2014.
Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence, and the emergence of extremist groups such as the IS group on the United States, which invaded Iraq in March 2003 under the pretext of seeking to destroy weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in the country.
The war led to the ouster and eventual execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, but no WMD was found. Enditem
