Australia declares Raqqa has been liberated from ISIS by lifting its travel ban on the region

FOREIGN minister Julie Bishop has declared Raqqa liberated from ISIS in a ‘major step forward’.

AUSTRALIA has officially declared Raqqa has been liberated from terrorist group ISIS by lifting its travel ban on the region.

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop hailed the terrorist group’s defeat in Raqqa as “a major step forward in the fight against ISIS” today.

“We have confirmation that the city of al-Raqqah in al-Raqqah province in Syria is no longer under the control of the terrorist organisation ISIS as a result of military action taken by the anti-ISIS forces, backed up by the coalition forces, including Australia,” she said today.

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Raqqa has been liberated from ISIS. Picture: Getty

“This means that Australian citizens who travel to al-Raqqah will no longer be subject to the criminal code defences that made it an offence to travel to al-Raqqah without legitimate purpose.

“This is an important milestone in the fight against ISIS, because the retaking of al-Raqqah deprives this terrorist organisation of an operating base in Syria.

“It takes away revenue that it has been receiving to fund attacks elsewhere.

“And it destroys the propaganda that ISIS is invincible.”

Ms Bishop said ISIS remained a dangerous threat and was likely to emerge elsewhere however.

“Will continue to be committed to the fight against ISIS,” she said.

The Foreign Affairs Minister said, despite the victory, the government’s advice remained that Australians should not travel to Syria or Iraq.

Anyone who travelled to the region between December 5, 2014 and yesterday could still be prosecuted under the Criminal Code.

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Julie Bishop says the liberation of Raqqa shows ISIS is not invincible. Picture: Kym Smith

It was designated a declared area in 2014 to allow homegrown jihadis who travelled to Syria to be prosecuted.

Five arrest warrants have been issued for Australians who have travelled to declared areas in the Middle East.

Attorney-General George Brandis said the law had acted as a deterrent for anyone who might want to join an extremist group in Syria.

Originally published as Australia declares Raqqa has been liberated from ISIS by lifting its travel ban on the region