After Raqqa's Liberation, Trump Says 'The End Of The ISIS Caliphate Is In Sight'
- 7 years ago
President Trump on Saturday issued a statement on the defeat of ISIS in Raqqa.
After the ousting of ISIS from Raqqa, President Trump on Saturday issued a statement, declaring that "the end of the ISIS caliphate is in sight."
"I am pleased to announce that the Syrian Democratic Forces, our partners in the fight against ISIS in Syria, have successfully recaptured Raqqah – the terrorist group's self-proclaimed capital city," Trump said in the statement.
Describing this development as a "critical breakthrough, " the president added, "with the liberation of ISIS's capital and the vast majority of its territory, the end of the ISIS caliphate is in sight."
Furthermore, Trump said his own decisions as president were instrumental in this victory.
"One of my core campaign promises to the American people was to defeat ISIS and to counter the spread of hateful ideology," he stated. "That is why, in the first days of my Administration, I issued orders to give our commanders and troops on the ground the full authorities to achieve this mission. As a result, ISIS strongholds in Mosul and Raqqah have fallen."
Trump also said that his administration has made "more progress against these evil terrorists in the past several months than in the past several years."
CNN reported Friday that US-backed militias had claimed the "total liberation" of Raqqa, "which for more than three years was the de facto capital of ISIS."
However, amid the celebrations over its recapture, there are may questions about what happens next.
"One of the most difficult questions for the U.S. and its allies to answer is with ISIS out, who takes over?" according to an ABC News report. "A legitimate and fair governing body is needed to secure the military's gains and prevent the same conditions that spawned ISIS's rise. It's also crucial that such a body supports local people and their needs."
In his statement, Trump did mention the transition "into a new phase in which we will support local security forces, de-escalate violence across Syria, and advance the conditions for lasting peace, so that the terrorists cannot return to threaten our collective security again."
After the ousting of ISIS from Raqqa, President Trump on Saturday issued a statement, declaring that "the end of the ISIS caliphate is in sight."
"I am pleased to announce that the Syrian Democratic Forces, our partners in the fight against ISIS in Syria, have successfully recaptured Raqqah – the terrorist group's self-proclaimed capital city," Trump said in the statement.
Describing this development as a "critical breakthrough, " the president added, "with the liberation of ISIS's capital and the vast majority of its territory, the end of the ISIS caliphate is in sight."
Furthermore, Trump said his own decisions as president were instrumental in this victory.
"One of my core campaign promises to the American people was to defeat ISIS and to counter the spread of hateful ideology," he stated. "That is why, in the first days of my Administration, I issued orders to give our commanders and troops on the ground the full authorities to achieve this mission. As a result, ISIS strongholds in Mosul and Raqqah have fallen."
Trump also said that his administration has made "more progress against these evil terrorists in the past several months than in the past several years."
CNN reported Friday that US-backed militias had claimed the "total liberation" of Raqqa, "which for more than three years was the de facto capital of ISIS."
However, amid the celebrations over its recapture, there are may questions about what happens next.
"One of the most difficult questions for the U.S. and its allies to answer is with ISIS out, who takes over?" according to an ABC News report. "A legitimate and fair governing body is needed to secure the military's gains and prevent the same conditions that spawned ISIS's rise. It's also crucial that such a body supports local people and their needs."
In his statement, Trump did mention the transition "into a new phase in which we will support local security forces, de-escalate violence across Syria, and advance the conditions for lasting peace, so that the terrorists cannot return to threaten our collective security again."