World leaders congratulate Iraq on defeating IS

World leaders congratulated Iraq Sunday following the prime minister's declaration of victory over the Islamic State group. Saudi Arabia says the achievement is a big victory against terrorism in the region and the United Kingdom applauded Iraq's security forces "for their courage and sacrifice."

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory in the more than three year fight against IS in a national address aired on Iraqi state television Saturday evening.

People celebrate as they wave national flags in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi formally announced the victory of the military over IS forces, in an address to the nation aired on Iraqi state television Saturday evening. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)wld

People celebrate as they wave national flags in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi formally announced the victory of the military over IS forces, in an address to the nation aired on Iraqi state television Saturday evening. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Sunday was an official holiday in Iraq. A military parade attended by al-Abadi was held inside Baghdad's fortified Green Zone — a district that houses most of Iraq's government buildings and foreign embassies. In the evening, the capital's skies filled with fireworks.

"Daesh no longer hold significant territory in Iraq or Syria," United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May said according to an official statement released by her office. "This signals a new chapter towards a more peaceful, prosperous country."

In Saudi Arabia's statement Sunday, the kingdom reiterated Saudi support for Iraq.

Several thousand Saudis are believed to have joined the ranks of Sunni extremist groups to fight in Iraq and Syria. However, the kingdom has also been a target of multiple attacks claimed by IS and carried out by local affiliates.

The top U.S.-led coalition commander U.S. Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II pledged that coalition forces would continue to support Iraq after the conventional military fight against IS is concluded.

People celebrate as they wave national flags in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi formally announced the victory of the military over IS forces, in an address to the nation aired on Iraqi state television Saturday evening. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

People celebrate as they wave national flags in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi formally announced the victory of the military over IS forces, in an address to the nation aired on Iraqi state television Saturday evening. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

"Much work remains, and we will continue to work by, with and through our Iraqi partners to ensure the enduring defeat of Daesh and prevent its ability to threaten civilization, regionally and globally," Funk said in a statement released by the coalition Sunday. Daesh is an Arabic acronym for IS.

Iraqi forces retook the last IS strongholds in Iraq's western deserts earlier Saturday and secured the country's border with Syria.

People celebrate as they wave national flags in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi formally announced the victory of the military over IS forces, in an address to the nation aired on Iraqi state television Saturday evening. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

People celebrate as they wave national flags in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi formally announced the victory of the military over IS forces, in an address to the nation aired on Iraqi state television Saturday evening. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

IS fighters overran nearly a third of Iraqi territory, including Mosul, the country's second largest city and Tikrit, the capital of Iraq's central Salahuddin province in the summer of 2014. The following year, IS fighters also overran Anbar's provincial capital of Ramadi.

Over the past 3 ½ half years, Iraqi ground forces closely backed by the U.S.-led coalition and mostly Shiite paramilitary forces backed by Iran have slowly retaken all of that territory.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi greets people during an Iraqi military parade in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Al-Abadi formally announced the victory of hte military over IS forces, in an address to the nation aired on Iraqi state television Saturday evening.(Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office pool via AP)

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi salutes security forces during an Iraqi military parade in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Al-Abadi formally announced the victory of hte military over IS forces, in an address to the nation aired on Iraqi state television Saturday evening. (Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office pool via AP)

Luke Littler has won the world darts championship at the age of 17 after beating Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final in London on Friday.

He became the youngest ever world champion in darts.

Here are some things to know about Britain's latest sporting sensation:

Littler threw his first dart — onto a magnetic board — at 18 months old, with a video showing him doing so while wearing a diaper. Littler started throwing steel tip darts at the age of 4 or 5, and he says he was throwing them from competition length — from an oche, or throwing line — at age 6 or 7. He won his first title at senior level when he was age 14, at the Irish Open in 2021.

Littler burst into global consciousness — and brought a new wave of followers to darts — by reaching the final of last year's world championship at the age of 16, in his first appearance at the tournament. To the backdrop of chants of “You’ve got school in the morning” from a boisterous crowd, Littler became the youngest player to win a match on the sport’s highest stage and then beat two former world champions to get to the title match, where he lost to top-ranked Luke Humphries. He celebrated his victories with kebabs and filled his down-time by playing video games.

Being a world championship runner-up earned Littler 200,000 pounds ($255,000) and he finished 2024 with total prize money topping 1 million pounds ($1.28 million) after winning 10 tournaments around the world, including in Bahrain and Amsterdam and climbing to No. 4 in the world.

Last month, Google announced that Littler was Britain’s most-searched athlete in 2024 and the third most-searched person, behind Kate Middleton and President-elect Donald Trump and just ahead of recently elected U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles. He has 1.5 million followers on Instagram, up from 4,000 before last year’s worlds.

Steve Brown, chairman of the Junior Darts Corporation, told the BBC the Littler effect has seen the number of academies for children under the age of 16 double to 115 in the last year and they can be found in places like Bulgaria and Mongolia. Brown said his corporation has more than 3,000 members, up from 1,600 12 months ago.

Littler — nicknamed “Luke the Nuke” — still lives at home with his parents, Lisa Littler and Anthony Buckley, in Warrington in northwest England. He is a Manchester United fan and received a message from David Beckham during the 2024 worlds.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Luke Littler of England celebrates during the final of the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Luke Littler of England celebrates during the final of the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Luke Littler of England celebrates during the final against Michael van Gerwen of the Netherlands at the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Luke Littler of England celebrates after winning the final against against Michael van Gerwen of the Netherlands at the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Luke Littler of England kisses the trophy after winning the final against Michael van Gerwen of the Netherlands at the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Luke Littler of England celebrates after winning the final against Michael van Gerwen of the Netherlands at the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)