TEHRAN, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iranian military general on Tuesday announced the final defeat of the Islamic States (IS) militants in Iraq and Syria and congratulated Iran's Supreme Leader on the "victory," Press TV reported.
In a congratulatory message to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), hailed the "great victory" over the IS.
The victory was achieved thanks to the prudent leadership of Khamenei and the sacrifices of all resistance fighters in Iraq and Syria, Soleimani was quoted as saying.
Backed by popular groups and Iranian military advisors, armed forces in Iraq and Syria have managed to flush IS militants out of their last strongholds in both countries, he said, declaring full victory over the "notorious terror group."
He also praised what he called the steadfastness of the Iraqi and Syrian nations, governments, armies and popular forces throughout the counter-terrorism battles.
Soleimani also expressed his gratitude to Lebanon's Hezbollah Shiite movement for its "powerful presence" and the pivotal role it played on the battlefield against terrorists in Syria.
