MOSUL BEGINS VICTORY BASH

Soldiers celebrate on the banks of the Tigris even as Daesh vows fight to death

mosul — Daesh militants vowed to “fight to the death” in Mosul on Saturday as Iraqi military commanders said they would take full control of the city from the insurgents at any moment.

Dozens of Iraqi soldiers celebrated amid the rubble on the banks of the Tigris river without waiting for a formal victory declaration, some dancing to music blaring out from a truck and firing machineguns into the air, a correspondent said.

Earlier on Saturday, a military spokesman said the insurgents’ defence lines were collapsing, state television reported.

“We are seeing now the last metres and then final victory will be announced,” a presenter said, citing correspondents embedded with security forces fighting in Daesh’s redoubt in the Old City by the Tigris. “It’s a matter of hours,” she added.

Iraqi authorities will imminently announce a final victory, a US general said on Saturday. “An announcement is imminent,” said Baghdad-based Brigadier General Robert Sofge.

Iraq’s Joint Operations Command said a group of militants tried to escape across the Tigris River from west Mosul, but 35 of them were killed by government forces. —