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

US: Raqqa’s liberation marks
# 20 October 2017 23:21 (UTC +04:00)

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, APA reports quoting Anadolu Agency.

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.

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