The end of the Islamic State

Iranian president declares end of Islamic State

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has declared the end of the self-proclaimed Islamic State on state television. Later, Major General Qassem Soleimani thanked what he called the "thousands of martyrs" killed in operations organized by Iran to defeat the militant group in Syria and Iraq. Reported on the elite Revolutionary Guards, he said they sent the message of defeat to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei claimed the defeat was a blow against Israel, the US and its allies, an allusion to Saudi Arabia.