Syria’s Raqqa Civil Council said on Sunday that al-Tabaqah’s city council has agreed to host ISIS militants who departed Raqqa in accordance with an agreement made earlier this week.
The accepted request was filed by residents in Karishan, Raqqa. Their request aimed to prevent bloodshed and to free remaining parts of Raqqa from the clutches of ISIS, who had claimed the city as their “capital” since establishing their self-proclaimed caliphate.
READ ALSO: US-backed SDF to let Syrian ISIS fighters leave Raqqa
Footage and pictures emerged showing some ISIS militants handing themselves over to the US-backed Democratic Syrian Forces on Sunday. The militants stood in a hall joined with Raqqa and Tabaqah council members.
ISIS foreign fighters banned
Also, Raqqa’s civil council had banned foreign ISIS fighters on Sunday from leaving the city.
In a statement, Raqqa’s council said: “For clarity and accuracy, we see that foreign ISIS [members] are not within the civil council and the tribal committee’s interests. They cannot be forgiven.”
“The surrenders consist of Syrians only. Together with their families they are a total of 275 individuals,” the civil council added.
READ ALSO: ISIS ‘caliphate’ crumbles as militants surrender and forced out of Raqqa
Speaking to AFP news agency, Syrian Democratic Forces spokesperson Talal Slio said: “More than 3,000 civilians left on Saturday evening to safe areas under SDF control in accordance with the agreement between Raqqa Civil Council, tribe elders and local ISIS fighters.”
He continued saying, “Raqqa is now completely free of civilians ISIS used to take as human shields.”
“About 250 to 300 foreign terrorists remain [in the city] from those who refused the agreement and chose to fight down to the last minute. Members of their families are also with them,” added Slio.
-
US-backed SDF says 275 ISIS militants left Raqqa city
US-backed militias said they had launched their final assault on Syria’s Raqqa on Sunday after a convoy of ISIS militants left the city, leaving ... Middle East -
US-backed SDF to let Syrian ISIS fighters leave Raqqa
Syrian ISIS fighters are set to abandon Raqqa in a withdrawal agreed with US-backed Syrian militias that have them surrounded, a militia spokesman ... Middle East -
ISIS ‘caliphate’ crumbles as militants surrender and forced out of Raqqa
Some 100 fighters from ISIS handed themselves over to US-backed fighters in the northern city of Raqqa Friday as fighting continued with remaining ... Middle East -
US official: No negotiated pullout for ISIS from Syria’s Raqqa
The US-led coalition battling ISIS said on Wednesday that it won’t accept a negotiated withdrawal for hundreds of ISIS militants holed up in the ... Middle East -
US-backed Syrian fighters preparing for final push in Raqqa
US-backed fighters in northern Syria are preparing for a final offensive on neighborhoods still held by the ISIS group in the city of Raqqa, a ... Middle East