UNITED NATIONS: Iraq has been steadily gaining ground against the militant Islamic State (IS) group, the United Nations envoy to Iraq told the UN Security Council this week.

“The success also demonstrates the increasingly resolute and effective support to Iraq of the global coalition to counter IS and provides lessons for preparations to liberate the remaining territories, most notably of Mosul”, he said.

The Special Re­presen­tative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Jan Kubiš, said liberation of Beiji, Sinjar, and most of Ramadi, and continuing clearance of the surrounding areas from fighters, have instilled the people of Iraq with hope that the country can and will be liberated from the IS.

He said though the IS was gradually losing its appeal to the disenfranchised population, its threat should not be underestimated.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2016