ISIS blows up landmark Grand al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had declared himself "caliph" in 2014
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the destruction of the sites was "an official declaration of defeat" from the jihadists in the eight-month-old battle for Mosul.
Jun 22, 2017, 08:44 AM ISTUS expects Islamic State to wield chemical weapons in Mosul fight
The fall of Mosul would signal the defeat of the ultra-hardline Sunni jihadists in Iraq but could also lead to land grabs.
Oct 19, 2016, 05:32 AM ISTIraqi forces `ahead of schedule` in Mosul: Pentagon
A US-led coalition has for months been helping train Iraqi forces for the fight for Mosul -- the last IS stronghold in Iraq.