Allies smash group’s last stronghold
ISLAMIC State’s defeat in Syria is now complete after the terror group’s last stronghold was smashed.
The Syrian Democratic Forces said the jihadis were crushed in eastern city Baghouz following intense fighting.
Spokesman Mustafa Bali said: “Total elimination of [the] so-called caliphate. The military victory against Daesh has been accomplished.”
But military experts and politicians warned that IS followers remained a threat in sleeper cells around the world.
And British forces will not scale back their presence in Syria and Iraq.
Prime Minister Theresa May said: “I commend the tireless work and extraordinary courage of the British forces and our global Coalition partners.
“The liberation of the last Daesh-held territory is a historic milestone. But we must not lose sight of the threat Daesh poses and the Government remains committed to eradicating their poisonous ideology.”
Fanatics hid in caves for a bloody last stand as Us-backed forces launched air strikes overnight on Thursday.
Donald Trump also declared victory over the caliphate set up five years ago.
It once covered much of Syria and neighbouring Iraq – a territory roughly the size of Britain in which millions of people were subjected to brutal Sharia law.