'Raqqa becomes part of federal Syria'

beirut - The Syrian Democratic Armed Forces (SDF) formally released the city of Raqqa from the Islamic State terrorist group on Friday.

The United States-supported SDF is led by Syrian-Kurdish combat groups. In a statement, the SDF promises to protect the borders of the surrounding province against 'all external threats'.

In addition, the SDF says that the future of Raqqa and the surrounding area will be determined by the population 'within the framework of a decentralized, federal and democratic Syria in which the residents of the province bestow their own business. '

Raqqa was the actual capital of the area that IS owned.