The fall of Raqqa

The fall of Raqqa in October 2017 marked a major defeat for ISIS, ending its control over its self-declared capital. Raqqa, taken by ISIS in 2014, became notorious for brutal rule and was a central hub for ISIS’s operations. The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a grueling four-month offensive in June 2017, facing intense resistance as ISIS used civilians as shields and the city’s infrastructure for defense. Raqqa’s liberation signaled the near collapse of ISIS’s territorial control, though it left the city in ruins, creating a major humanitarian and rebuilding challenge.