Islamic State Pushed Out Of ‘Capital’ Raqqa

The Islamic State has been ousted from the capital of its self-declared caliphate in Raqqa, Syria. After four months of fighting, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces—comprised primarily of Kurdish YPG units and various Arab fighters—retook the city center, handing the terror group its worst defeat since the fall of Mosul in Iraq earlier this year. “Military operations have ended but sweeping [activities] are continuing to destroy sleeper cells if they exist and to cleanse [Raqqa of] mines,” an SDF spokesman related in a statement. Despite the development there were no declarations of total victory as an estimated 100 ISIS fighters remain holed up in Raqqa and could still put up resistance. Nevertheless, the focus now shifts to consolidating control over the region, where fierce competition is underway to fill the vacuum left behind by ISIS’ demise. Turkish forces have been deployed to the area with the aim of preventing the Kurds from declaring autonomy over any territory, whereas Syrian regime army units and Iranian-supported Shiite rebels continue to make advances nearby. The fall of Raqqa is a significant strategic blow to ISIS, having acted as its center of operations since being captured in 2014. The loss of the city also ends the terror group’s claim to ruling a physical state, which will likely negatively impact its image and thus ability to recruit new members while its remaining leaders and fighters attempt to regroup elsewhere.