The laughter of Mosul Children Celebrates Eid with No ISIS

Moses - Mosul boys laugh happily celebrating the first Eid after several years of living in the "clutches" of the ISIS group. They are with the adults crowded the playground to celebrate the Muslim holiday on Sunday (25/06/2017).

The extremists of the Islamic State or ISIS have been removed from most of Mosul City after a joint US and Iraqi force attack, which began last year.

The children in the city are free to play without fear of strict ISIS rules. They were previously encouraged to practice using weapons by ISIS militants. Their school textbooks have also been replaced by the radical ideology of radical groups.

But thousands of civilians are thought to be still trapped in the old town in western Mosul, which until now is under ISIS control.

The new Iraqi forces captured eastern Mosul from the occupation of ISIS after about 100 days of fighting.

"It will not be Eid before we return home," said a 60-year-old man who fled from the western region of Mosul City.

Residents were also disappointed after the destruction of the 850-year-old Grand Mosque of Al-Nuri with its 150-foot (45-meter) typical tower. According to Iraqi and US military, mosques and minarets were blown up by militants on Wednesday. However, ISIS accused the mosque of being hijab by US aircraft attacks.

About 350 ISIS militants, most of them non-Iraqi, still defend their remaining stronghold in the heavily populated old town of Mosul.

However, the Iraqi government is optimistic that the battle to seize the entire city of Mosul is coming to an end.

"Because of heroic power, we are closer to declaring the final victory over Daesh's gang (ISIS), I sincerely congratulate Eid al-Fitr," Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a statement

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