War

Islamic State defeated in Raqqa after four-month siege - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said Tuesday it has cleared Raqqa, the Islamic State's de facto Syrian capital, of all militant fighters -- ending a fight that began early this summer. The Syrian Democratic Forces, the U.S.-backed rebel force, said the four-month fight in the Islamic State's de facto Syrian capital ended Tuesday -- with about 300 remaining militant holdouts confined to a narrow section of the city. [...] The Islamic State lost Mosul, its largest city in Iraq, three months ago -- and now controls only a small strip of Syrian territory in the Euphrates Valley, south of the city of Deir Ezzor."

Experts: Islamic State 'death spiral' most dangerous part of fight for U.S. coalition - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Experts on the Middle East, terrorism and the Islamic State say that while the terrorist organization is in a "death spiral," the U.S.-led coalition battling the group is likely entering its most dangerous phase. The early signs of victory are beginning to circulate as the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, drive IS out of its proclaimed capital of Raqqa, Syria. [...] The battle of Raqqa comes more than two months since the bloody, nine-month campaign to liberate Mosul, Iraq, from IS militants. [...] Several other experts told UPI they fear Yemen will be the main area of interest as IS attempts to regroup and exert influence."

Comment: This was an historic day in the fight against the Islamic State. The capital of their so-called caliphate, Raqqa, has been liberated.  The war is not over, of course, and it's always possible that they could regroup, but we should take this moment to appreciate the victory and those who lost their lives making it happen.