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World / Middle East

All Syrian IS fighters leave Raqa

Published: 14 Oct 2017 - 11:09 am | Last Updated: 04 Nov 2021 - 09:03 am
(FILES) This file photo taken on October 01, 2017 shows the damage near the central hospital of the embattled northern Syrian city of Raqa. AFP / BULENT KILIC

(FILES) This file photo taken on October 01, 2017 shows the damage near the central hospital of the embattled northern Syrian city of Raqa. AFP / BULENT KILIC

AFP

Beirut: All Syrian fighters of the Islamic State group have left the jihadists' one-time bastion of Raqa and preparations are under way for foreign combatants to leave, a monitor said Saturday.

The Syrian Islamic State members left Raqa with their families, heading to unknown destinations, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

A Raqa official said Syrian IS members had surrendered to the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces battling to take full control of the city, without specifying how many.