WEB DESK /
US-backed forces said, they have fully encircled Islamic State fighters in the Syrian city of Raqqa, the capital of the group’s self-proclaimed caliphate. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, said they have now sealed off escape routes to the south.
IS seized Raqqa in early 2014 and established its headquarters there. The SDF have been gradually advancing on the city since November and launched an offensive to take it on June 6. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group confirmed that the last route out of the city had now been cut off.
Meanwhile, Iraqi security forces have recaptured the site of the destroyed Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul after driving back militants from IS. Militants blew up the mosque and its landmark leaning minaret last week. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said retaking the site marked the end of the fake Islamic state.