BAGHDAD, Iraq — Following a series of startling victories, militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) have captured most of Baghdad, after seizing Mosul and Tikrit last week.
In a rare public appearance, ISIS commander Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi took the opportunity to declare that "major combat operations have ended."
"In the battle of Iraq, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham and our allies have prevailed," Baghdadi said, sipping from a Green Beans coffee cup and motioning to a nebulous PowerPoint slide, before adding: "We anticipate the removal of all of ISIS forces. We have a plan for what we call 'Phase IV.'"
