President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that U.S.-backed forces had succeeded in liberating "the entire" city of Raqqa in Syria, The Hill reported, and he called it "a critical breakthrough" in bringing down the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria.
"I am pleased to announce that the Syrian Democratic Forces, our partners in the fight against ISIS in Syria, have successfully recaptured Raqqa — the terrorist group's self-proclaimed capital city. Together, our forces have liberated the entire city from ISIS control," Trump said in a statement.
"The defeat of ISIS in Raqqa represents a critical breakthrough in our worldwide campaign to defeat ISIS and its wicked ideology. With the liberation of ISIS's capital and the vast majority of its territory, the end of the ISIS caliphate is in sight," he added.
The U.S.-backed forces on Friday declared "total liberation" of Raqqa following a 130-day battle that forced ISIS away from the city located in northern Syria.
Trump said the days to follow would include support for "diplomatic negotiations that end violence, allow refugees to return safely home, and yield a political transition that honors the will of the Syrian people."
Trump retweeted the Hill article Saturday morning about the announcement.
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