BAGHOUZ, Syria (AP) — A U.S.-backed Syrian force says it has liberated the last area held by the Islamic State group in the eastern Syrian village of Baghouz, declaring victory over the extremists and the end of their self-declared caliphate.

Mustafa Bali, a spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces, tweeted that "Baghouz is free and the military victory against Daesh has been achieved," referring to the group by its Arabic acronym.

Bali says the so-called caliphate, which once sprawled across much of Syria and neighboring Iraq, is gone, and pledged to continue the fight against remnants of the extremist group until they are completely eradicated.