U.S.-backed Syrian rebel forces announced Tuesday that they had launched the long-anticipated offensive to recapture the ISIS-held northern city of Raqqa—the terror group’s de facto capital since it was overrun in January 2014. Rebel fighters have been clearing the way to take back Raqqa since November, and it’s now surrounded from the east, north, and west. “We declare today the beginning of the great battle to liberate the city of Raqqa, the alleged capital of terrorism and terrorists,” said Talal Sillo, a spokesman for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. “Morale is high and military readiness to implement the military plan is complete, in coordination with the U.S.-led coalition.”
