Raqqa marks 7 years since ISIS defeat with Coalition-backed celebration
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) hosted on Sunday a significant celebration in the city of Raqqa, northern Syria, commemorating the seventh anniversary of ISIS’ expulsion from the city.
The event, held at Raqqa’s municipal stadium Point 11, saw participation from U.S.-led Global Coalition troops, alongside local residents, AANES officials, and prominent politicians.
Speeches delivered at the gathering emphasized the sustained efforts to counter ISIS threat and underscored the critical need for ongoing stability and development across the region.
On Oct. 17, 2017, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by the U.S.-led Global Coalition, declared victory over ISIS in Raqqa after a grueling four-month battle. Raqqa, once the de facto capital of ISIS’ self-declared caliphate, had become a symbol of the group’s brutality, with mass executions, public beheadings, and terror imposed on its residents.
The liberation was a turning point in the campaign against ISIS, significantly weakening the group’s territorial control. Since then, Raqqa has been run by the AANES, which has focused on rebuilding the war-torn city and maintaining security to prevent the reemergence of ISIS.