Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in a televised statement said, Our dearest people in Nineveh province, the victory bell has rung, and the operations to liberate Mosul have begun. I am announcing today the beginning of these heroic operations to liberate you from the brutality and terrorism of IS. God willing, we will meet soon on the ground of Mosul where we will all celebrate the liberation and your freedom. After a month-long buildup, the last urban stronghold of Islamic State in Iraq has for several days been almost completely surrounded by a 30,000-strong force.