TOTAL LIBERATION OF RAQQA (SYRIAN CITY WHICH WAS THE ISLAMIC STATE STRONGHOLD) HAS BEEN DECLARED BY THE U.S-BACKED FORCES.

On Friday, October 20, 2017, the US-backed forces declared total liberation of Raqqa, Syrian city which was Islamic state stronghold (de facto capital of ISIS) since 2014. The ceremony for the capture of Raqqa was held at the Raqqa stadium where the Islamic state group had their biggest prison in the city. Among those that attended the ceremony were the local officials, tribal chiefs from Raqqa and neighbouring cities, members of the Syrian Democratic Council. Residents of the city (Raqqa) have been advised by the Syrian Defense Forces to stay away from the city for now until landmines and booby traps found in the towns are removed. Raqqa was rescued from the Islamic state group by the efforts of Syrian Defense Forces (SDF) with the support of coalition air strikes which started in June. ISIS lost control of the city on Tuesday, October 17, 2017. Now Islamic state only controls a small part of the territory along the Euphrates River in northern Syria.