Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Tuesday said the Islamic State (IS) had been defeated from a military perspective, but he would declare final victory only after IS militants were routed in the desert, reported Reuters news agency.

The Iraqi army last week captured the border town of Rawa, the last remaining town under Islamic State control.

“From a military perspective, we have ended the presence of Daesh [(ISIS)] in Iraq,” Abadi said. “God willing, we will announce very soon after the end of the purification operations victory over Daesh in Iraq.”

“[But] any disagreement between political factions will encourage Daesh to carry out terrorist attacks,” he added. “I call on our Kurdish brothers to avoid fighting.”