U.S.-led coalition declares ISIS forces vanquished, battle for Raqqa over

[jpak]

Source: Washington Post

BEIRUT — The U.S.-led coalition said Friday that the capture of the Islamic State’s onetime Syria capital of Raqqa marked a turning point in the fight against the extremist group, effectively declaring an end to the military operation there.

A U.S.-backed force known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, has been clearing the final pockets of the resistance in the city since declaring victory over the Islamic State on Tuesday.

“Daesh's loss of Mosul and now Raqqah are turning points for the terrorist organization whose leaders grow ever more distant from a dwindling number of terrorist adherents,” said the coalition in a statement, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State.

Three years after seizing a swathe of land the size of Belgium across Syria and Iraq, the Islamic State no longer holds any major cities and is clinging to only one sizable stretch of territory spanning the border between the two countries.

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/us-led-coalition-declares-isis-forces-vanquished-battle-for-raqqa-over/2017/10/20/85da033a-b4f6-11e7-9b93-b97043e57a22_story.html?utm_term=.f5c210f2fd08

[HopeAgain]

1. After hearing Kelly and watching Burn's Vietnam

I don't trust what any of these Generals say to us about the state of anything. Don't be surprised if ISIS shows up somewhere else, stronger than ever.

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. Exactly my thoughts!

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. " clinging to only one sizable stretch of territory spanning the border between the two countries"

So they really haven't done shit, "Peace is at hand" bullshit.

[NCDem777]

4. They'll show again

because the locals have no interest in democracy,