DAMASCUS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Saturday the defeat of the Islamic State (IS) militant group in eastern Syria, the SDF spokesman said.

The town of Baghouz, the last IS redoubt in eastern Syria, has been fully liberated, announced Mustafa Bali.

He also sent congratulations to the world on the elimination of the so-called IS caliphate in Syria.

The victory ended the IS rule that once spanned a third of Iraq and Syria.