Iraq PM vows to pursue Daesh beyond country's borders

By Ibrahim Saleh

BAGHDAD (AA) - Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi on Tuesday vowed to continue pursuing Daesh terrorists -- both inside Iraq and beyond its borders.

Marking the passage of one year since the terrorist group was driven from the city of Mosul, al-Abadi declared: “We will extirpate remaining Daesh gangs and sleeper cells, even if this means pursuing them outside our borders.”

Al-Abadi went on to point out that Iraq had begun the initial stages of countrywide reconstruction efforts, especially in areas liberated from Daesh.

“We have laid down strategies for rebuilding the country, implementation of which has already started,” he said.

Iraqi forces recaptured Mosul from Daesh -- with the help of a U.S.-led coalition -- on July 10 of last year.

Since then, they have continued to carry out frequent mopping-up operations with a view to eradicating the group’s lingering presence in the area.

Last December, officials in Baghdad declared that Daesh's military presence in the country had been all but destroyed.

The group, however, still appears to maintain an active -- albeit limited -- presence in Iraq’s northern and western regions.