IRAQ-CONFLICT-MOSUL

A member of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) raises the victory gesture as others hold upside-down the black flag of the Islamic State (IS) group, outside the destroyed Al-Nuri Mosque in the Old City of Mosul, after the area was retaken from IS, on June 30, 2017.Explosions on June 21 evening levelled the mosque, where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi gave his first sermon as leader of the Islamic State group and its ancient minaret.. Iraq will declare victory in the eight-month battle to retake second city Mosul from jihadists in the "next few days," a senior commander said on June 30, 2017.Iraqi forces launched the gruelling battle for Mosul on October 17, 2016, advancing to the city and retaking its eastern side before setting their sights on the smaller but more densely populated west. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP) (Photo by FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)