Raqqa Liberation ’at Final Stage,’ UN Says City in Ruins

Local Editor

US-backed fighters in Syria reported the final liberation of Raqqa from Daesh [the Arabic acronym for terrorist ‘ISIS/ISIL' group]. However, there seems to be no further plan in Washington of how to bring life back to the almost completely destroyed city.

Opposition forces in Syria, including Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF] and the People's Protection Units [YPG] announced a victory over the terrorist group in its former self-proclaimed capital in Syria.

The American-backed SDF claimed on Tuesday that Raqqa is under their control.

A spokesperson for the US-led anti-terrorist operation in the region, Ryan Dillon, of the Combined Joint Task Force, said the US military officials were "aware of the reports that Daesh has been defeated in Raqqa."

The city has been 90 percent cleared of Daesh, the US military officials suggest, saying that they still expect some resistance.

Meanwhile, Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, told reporters on Tuesday that the UN has "received reports that much of the city has been damaged or destroyed due to the fighting."

Once inhabited by 300,000 people, less than 1 percent of the population remain in the city, which has no working electricity or running water.

Raqqa is still laced with booby traps and explosives laid down by retreating Daesh terrorists.

In addition to that, some 3,000 bombs have been reportedly dropped on the former Daesh stronghold by the US-led coalition since January.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team