Iran President Hassan Rouhani declares end of Islamic State, thanks martyrs

Rouhani accused the United States and Israel of supporting Islamic State

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani declared the end of Islamic State on Tuesday while a senior military commander thanked the "thousands of martyrs" killed in operations organised by Iran to defeat the militant group in Syria and Iraq.
 

"Today with God's guidance and the resistance of people in the region we can say that this evil has either been lifted from the head of the people or has been reduced," Rouhani said in an address broadcast live on state TV.
 

"Of course the remnants will continue but the foundation and roots have been destroyed."
 

Major General Qassem Soleimani, a senior commander