France, UK and US welcome the elimination of ISIS territory, but menace of terrorism remains

Territory may have been reclaimed, but extremist organisation is not defeated

A female fighter of the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) flashes the victory gesture while celebrating near the Omar oil field in the eastern Syrian Deir Ezzor province after announcing the total elimination of ISIS. AFP

Fighters of the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) dance as they celebrate near the Omar oil field in the eastern Syrian Deir Ezzor province after announcing the total elimination of ISIS. AFP

Fighters of the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) celebrate near the Omar oil field in the eastern Syrian Deir Ezzor province on March 23, 2019, after announcing the total elimination of ISIS. AFP

An SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) fighter looks over seized ISIS weapons that were found in the last stronghold of the extremist group as they were displayed. Getty

Smoke rises from a strike on Baghouz, Syria, on Friday. AP

Smoke rising over the village of Baghouz in the eastern Syrian province of Deir Ezzor. AFP

Seized ISIS weapons that were found in the last stronghold of the extremist group are displayed at an SDF base outside Al Mayadin, Syria. Getty

Destroyed houses and vehicles in the village of Sousa, near the village of Baghouz in the eastern Syrian province of Deir Ezzor. AFP

A vehicle carrying fighters of the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) drives through the village of Sousa, near the village of Baghouz in the eastern Syrian province of Deir Ezzor. AFP

Seized ISIS weapons that were found in the last stronghold of the extremist group are displayed at an SDF base outside Al Mayadin, Syria. Getty

The damaged roof of a building with smoke rising over the village of Baghouz in the eastern Syrian province of Deir Ezzor, with the flags of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (Yellow) and Women's Protection Units (Green) seen flying at one of their positions in the background. AFP

Smoke rising over the village of Baghouz in the eastern Syrian province of Deir Ezzor, with the flags of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (Yellow) and Women's Protection Units (Green) seen flying at one of their positions in the background. AFP

World leaders have welcomed the announcement of the "total elimination" of ISIS territory by the SDF on Saturday, while warning of the continued threat posed by ISIS.

After a nearly five-year battle against ISIS, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces announced the "total elimination" of ISIS territory.

France's Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron welcomed the news, saying a "major danger for France" has been eliminated, while the United Kingdom's Prime Minister Theresa May praised the "immense courage of UK military and our allies."

Brett McGurk, former US Presidential Envoy for the Campaign to Defeat ISIS,  praised the "diverse force of Arabs, Kurds, and Christians" who had pursued ISIS "town-to-town, block-by-block."

Mr McGurk resigned in December, criticising Mr Trump's surprise announcement of the withdrawal of US troops from Syria, arguing the American president had prematurely declared the defeat of ISIS.

"They also know better than anyone that defeat of the physical “caliphate” does not mean the end of ISIS", Mr McGurk said.

"Follow-through - with training, pressure on ISIS networks in Iraq & Syria, and support for holding thousands of detainees - is essential and was always part of the plan," he said.

The Syrian Democratic Forces announced on Saturday the next iteration of their plan to defeat ISIS sleeper cells across the region.

Leaders have also warned that although ISIS does not officially hold any territory, the organisation is not defeated.

"But the menace remains and the struggle against terrorist groups must continue," Mr Macron said, while French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly posted on Twitter that "Islamic State no longer has any territory, but it has not disappeared."

The United Kingdom's Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt said ISIS "once imposed their rule of terror on an area the size of the United Kingdom," adding that "we cannot be complacent."

"[ISIS] and its poisonous ideology will continue to pose a threat to the people of Iraq and Syria, as well as to the wider world."