But does ISIS?
Finally, the one-time headquarter and lately final stronghold of the mythical ISIS caliphate, Raqqa, falls. But, seeing how the caliphate’s army defended its bastions for much of this war, the collapse most likely owes to the militants choosing to live and fight another day than being crushed by advancing US-backed Kurdish fighters of the Syrian Defence Forces (SDF). The long fight, therefore, could still be far from over, especially if losing militants take to what they do best – conducting cruel guerilla attacks on soft, civilian targets to deligitimise the government.
As life in some of the recently liberated cities and villages, especially Raqqa, begins its long journey back to normal, healing psychological wounds inflicted by the cruel occupation might prove even more difficult than treating battlefield injuries. ISIS completely changed the demographics of areas under its control. Mosul and surrounding areas, for example, were robbed of their centuries-long ethnic and sectarian identity as ISIS simply beheaded all male Shi’a and other minorities and took their women as slaves. Its atrocities against the ancient Yezidi community, that has lived in the old hills of Syria for thousands of years, are another glaring example.
ISIS also disfigured the rich ancient heritage of Syria, especially in places like Aleppo and Raqqa, which boast an inheritance going back to Roman times. Reports of the destruction of the latter’s Abbasid era glory made it to the international press now and then, but a more detailed picture will come now. Then there is the hangover of hate that comes after every war. The grieved and injured will want revenge. The Syrian government was smart enough to bombard the country with a powerful anti-militant narrative throughout the war. It must now put in just as much effort in building an after-war narrative. If the people turn to hateful after-war crimes, the reconstruction will be put on the backburner and fighting will start anew. And, far worse, ISIS will be allowed to come alive again.