Summary
Iraqi forces have "liberated" Diyala province from ISIS, retaking all populated areas of the eastern region, a top army officer said Monday.
Diyala has seen months of fighting, especially in the Jalawla and Saadiyah areas in the province's north, which were held by ISIS, and areas near the town of Muqdadiyah, which the militants repeatedly attacked but never took.
The last battle for a populated part of the province began last Friday in an area of villages near Muqdadiyah, northeast of Diyala capital Baquba.
Much will depend on how well Iraqi forces are able to hold retaken territory and efforts to reconstruct areas damaged by the fighting.
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