US: Raqqa’s "liberation" marks 'beginning of a new phase'

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday congratulated the Syrian people and the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the liberation of the city of Raqqa from Daesh.


In a statement, Tillerson said the U.S. is proud to lead the 73-member global coalition in the fight against Daesh, which has seen its "so-called caliphate crumble across Iraq and Syria".

"Our work is far from over, but the liberation of Raqqa is a critical milestone in the global fight against ISIS," the former Exxon Mobil CEO said, referring to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, another name for Daesh.

Tillerson emphasized that the liberation of Raqqa marks the beginning of a new phase in the Syrian conflict, in which the U.S. and its partners would seek to "de-escalate violence across Syria”.

He added that the fight against Daesh would not end with the liberation of Raqqa and will continue until all Syrians have been liberated from Daesh and it no longer exports its terror around the world.
  aa.com.tr
 20/10/17
-

• US-backed forces succeed in making Raqqa 80 percent “uninhabitable”...

As was predicted by some military analysts at and since the beginning of this year, the operation by the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to capture Raqqa from ISIS has resulted in the city’s complete annihilation.

According to the United Nations, the campaign by US-backed, Kurdish-led militias to capture Raqqa from Islamic State terrorists resulted in some 80 percent of the city now becoming “uninhabitable.”

This statistic is revealed at a time when Kurdish militias pulled a questionable stun in Raqqa’s city center following their clearing the area from ISIS.
  [almasdarnews.com]
 20/10/17
--

• France Pledges 15 Mln Euros of Aid to Areas Freed From Daesh in Syria...

The aid will be allocated to help people in the Syrian city of Raqqa that was cleared from Daesh militants on Friday.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that some additional assistance worth 15 million euros will be sent to Syria by the year-end. It is planned to be spent on food, de-mining, displaced people, water and health.

"France also hopes that the governance of these territories will meet the needs and aspirations of the populations and facilitate reconciliation."

The news comes as the US-led coalition announced on Friday the city of Raqqa that was considered to be Daesh's self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria, was liberated by Washington-supported Kurdish forces.

Le Drian has also called for assistance for up to 60,000 people, who, according to him, remain in Raqqa after the liberation.
[sputniknews.com]
 20/10/17
-