Raqqa recaptured from Islamic State, claims US-backed forces

October 18, 2017 00:16

United States-backed forces said on Tuesday that they have recaptured The Syrian city of Raqqa from the Islamic State group.

The Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces said on Tuesday that they had captured the citys stadium and the nearby hospital, which were the last holdouts of the terrorist group in the city. But they fell short of issuing an official statement announcing the liberation of Raqqa.

Military operations have ended in Raqqa, but sweeping operations are continuing to destroy sleeper cells if they exist and to cleanse the city from mines, Talal Selo, a SDF spokesman, said in a statement.

The situation is under control in Raqqa and soon we will announce the liberation of the city.

Islamic State first captured Raqqa in early 2014 before spreading to a number of other major cities in Syria and Iraq, including Mosul. It is believed to have used the city as a command centre for operations in the Middle East and well as in the west. A number of westerners imprisoned by Isis were also held there before being killed.

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