After U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) pushed insurgents back against the Euphrates River outside of the besieged village of Bāghūz over the past few days, some are saying the final offensive against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has led to the caliphate finally crumbling. Although an official announcement has not been made, the village where the last ISIS stronghold was located has been liberated.
Fox News reports that military troops are now bringing down the black flags of ISIS that have flown over the territories that were held by the brutal pseudo-regime that ruled over eight million people in the Middle East.
Reportedly, SDF led an offensive against ISIS insurgents from three sides in the Middle Euphrates River Valley near the Iraqi border, pushing them back towards the river where a majority surrendered. Since January, around 60,000 fighters have fled towards the desert, but many are now being held in prisoner camps in Syria.
The SDF has sought the help of the U.S. military in creating a makeshift tribunal in order to prosecute thousands of militant jihadists.
The development comes just two weeks after the U.S. military’s continual withdrawal from the Middle East was reversed, sending service members back into the war-torn region to “ensure stability and prevent the return” of the Islamic State’s jihadist militant group in Syria. U.S. military officials have confirmed a residual force of 400 troops will be split between northeastern Syria and the southern part of the country.
Though, some reports now suggest the figure may be around 1,000 staying to patrol the regions.
Regardless, President Donald Trump took to Twitter yesterday to post a map of the physical reaches of the caliphate now compared to just two years ago.
“ISIS Caliphate two years ago in red vs. ISIS Caliphate TODAY. (Was even worse in November 2016 before I took office),” the president said.