Islamic State has lost final stronghold in Syria: Syrian Democratic Forces
March 23, 2019 12:59
Islamic State has lost its final stronghold in Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces announced on Saturday, bringing an end to the so-called caliphate declared by the terrorist group in 2014.
The Syrian Democratic Forces said it defeated IS and fully liberated Baghouz in eastern Syria.
"Syrian Democratic Forces declare total elimination of so-called caliphate and 100% territorial defeat of ISIS. On this unique day, we commemorate thousands of martyrs whose efforts made the victory possible," tweeted Mustafa Bali, head of the SDF press office.
At its peak, IS controlled a huge stretch of territory stretching from western Syria to the outskirts of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. But the final battle took place in the past several weeks around the small and otherwise unremarkable Syrian town of Baghouz, on the banks of the Euphrates River.
A coalition of Kurdish and Arab soldiers backed by US, British and French special forces launched the last assault on the IS enclave in early February.
For weeks, US-led coalition airstrikes had pummeled parts of the town while fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces pushed forward on the ground.
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