Reuters - Video

Edition: US | UK | IN | CN | JP

video MOST POPULAR

UK cyber agency warns over use of Russian software
UK cyber agency warns over use of Russian software - 01:31

I.S. defeat in Raqqa expected within days -Kurd militia

Saturday, October 14, 2017 - 01:35

Islamic State is on the verge of defeat in their de facto Syrian capital of Raqqa, with U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters telling Reuters the city could be cleared over the weekend.

▲ Hide Transcript

▶ View Transcript

The defeat of Islamic State in their de facto Syrian capital appears to be imminent. U.S.-backed fighters from the Kurdish YPG militia telling Reuters that they expect the city could be cleared of the jihadists by the end of the weekend. A U.S. military official speaking on behalf of the coalition says about a hundred Islamic State members surrendered in the span of a day. There are also reports that some remaining I.S. militants are being bussed out of the city in a deal brokered with the coalition. Coalition representatives couldn't immediately confirm, yet it would follow a pattern seen in other Syrian battles. Raqqa's been under siege since June and Islamic State's loss there will be considered a major milestone for the international effort to destroy their self-declared caliphate. But like what happened to Mosul in Iraq and other former I.S. territories, there's now a delicate path forward to reconstruction and reconciliation for those who lived under years of their rule. It's already started on the city's outskirts. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FORMER ISLAMIC STATE MEMBER, IMAD ALMALLAWI, SAYING: "I worked an administrative job, checkpoints, some unimportant managerial stuff. But I wasn't involved in the fighting and many people can confirm that." It's a familiar tale and one that can't be verified. The battle for Raqqa has taken a heavy toll on civilians - human rights groups believe hundreds have been killed in the fighting, after months of shortages in food and medicine.

Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code

Close

I.S. defeat in Raqqa expected within days -Kurd militia

Saturday, October 14, 2017 - 01:35

Featured Videos

World Toad in the Hole Championships

World Toad in the Hole Championships

The aim of the traditional pub game originating from France is to land as many large brass coins or 'toads' in a table's small hole
Tarantula burgers on the menu

Tarantula burgers on the menu

For adventurous diners, tarantula topped burgers are available at a Durham, North Carolina restaurant as part of its ‘exotic meat’ month
Runners brave the cold for North Pole Marathon

Runners brave the cold for North Pole Marathon

Runners brave freezing conditions at top of the world in North Pole Marathon
UK firm turns discarded gum into shoes, coffee cups and combs

UK firm turns discarded gum into shoes, coffee cups and combs

Chewing gum is a blight on city streets and takes a heavy toll on the environment, say its critics. But one woman in Britain is performing modern-day alchemy on it
After oil, solar? Saudi Arabia plans ahead

After oil, solar? Saudi Arabia plans ahead

Researchers in a lab outside Riyadh are leading the kingdoms ambitious new plans to be a world leader in solar energy