Syria Has Officially Defeated ISIS — but What Happens Next Could Be Even Worse

(ANTIMEDIA Op-ed) — On Saturday, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin issued a joint statement vowing to defeat ISIS — after the Syrian Army had already issued a declaration that it successfully defeated the terror group.

The Syrian army’s capture of ISIS’ last main town in Syria, known as Albu Kamal, marked the end of its so-called caliphate and the final demise of its territorial ambitions.

“There [are] some fighters left but they’re few. Small numbers is all I can say,” said a Syrian army commander of the remaining militants near Albu Kamal, Reuters reported. “Some were killed and some ran away. They went towards eastern or northern villages.”

This victory sealed “the fall of the terrorist Daesh organisation’s [ISIS’] project in the region,” an army statement said.

However, Reuters notes that this particular success will open up new doors for further confrontation in the country as the different entities vie for control of disputed territories. According to Reuters, “Syrian officials and a senior advisor to Iran have indicated the Syrian army will now stake its claim to Kurdish-held territory.”