The Islamic State's Capital Of Raqqa Has Fallen To U.S.-Backed Forces -- News Roundup

New York Times: U.S.-Backed Forces Say They Captured Raqqa From ISIS

BEIRUT, Lebanon — American-backed forces said on Tuesday that they had seized the northern Syrian city of Raqqa from the Islamic State, a major blow to the militant group, which had long used the city as the de facto capital of its self-declared caliphate.

Celebrations erupted in Raqqa, where residents had lived under the repressive rule of militants who beheaded people for offenses as minor as smoking. Fighters could be seen cheering and firing celebratory gunfire in the streets, according to residents reached by phone and text message.

The United States Central Command stopped short of declaring victory, saying “more than 90 percent of Raqqa is in S.D.F. control,” a reference to the Syrian Democratic Forces, an American-backed militia group made up of Syrian Kurds and Arabs.

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The Islamic State's Capital Of Raqqa Has Fallen To U.S.-Backed Forces -- News Roundup

U.S.-backed Syrian militias raise flag in Raqqa stadium -- Reuters
Syrian commander says Raqqa has been captured from militants -- AP
Islamic State defeated in its Syrian capital Raqqa -- Reuters
US-backed force says has fully captured Raqa from IS -- AFP
US-backed force claims capture of Islamic State's de facto Syrian capital Raqqa -- Washington Post
US-backed forces say Islamic State's capital in Syria has been captured -- Los Angeles Times
Raqqa: IS 'capital' falls to US-backed Syrian forces -- BBC
Raqqa 'liberated from Islamic State' in sign of jihadists' collapsing fortunes -- ABC News Online
Syrian Democratic Forces liberate Raqqa from 'Islamic State -- DW
Raqqa recaptured from Islamic State, US-backed forces announce -- The Guardian
SDF captures Syria's Raqqa city from ISIL -- Al Jazeera
Islamic State cleared from Syria's Raqqa: monitor -- Reuters
Raqa battle over but aid effort just starting: group -- AFP
US-Backed Syrian Forces Have Defeated ISIS in Raqqa -- VICE
After victory in Raqqa over IS, Kurds face tricky peace -- Reuters
Five facts on former IS Syrian bastion Raqa -- AFP
Factbox: Raqqa - Islamic State's Syrian HQ has fallen -- Reuters
Timeline of events in Syrian city of Raqqa, once IS capital -- FOX News/AP