U.S.-backed forces declare ISIS capital liberated

U.S.-backed Syrian forces on Tuesday liberated the city of Raqqa from Islamic State (ISIS) control, military officials said. Brig. Gen. Talal Sillo said clashes with ISIS ended in the city, which had served as the terror group’s headquarters for more than three years. Dozens of militants who refused to surrender made their last stand in the city’s stadium. Earlier on Tuesday, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) forces captured the city’s hospital, which had also served as a major holdout. Rojda Felat, commander of the Raqqa campaign for the SDF, told Reuters the alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias would continue to clear out landmines and any remaining militants in hiding.