DUBAI, July 14 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday congratulated the Iraqi government and people on their victory over the terror group Islamic State (IS) in Mosul, UAE state news agency WAM reported.
"Countering extremism and terrorism is one of the most important threats facing the region and its people," the official agency quoted UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as saying.
"The UAE has always stood with Iraq in its efforts to combat extremism and terrorism in all its forms and ways of financing it," the ministry said.
On Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially announced the liberation of Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq, from the control of IS.
The announcement came nearly nine months after the start of the battle to liberate Mosul, which fell in the hands of IS militants in June 2014.
