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Raqqa , the crucial battlefront in the war against ISIS after the brutal fight to retake Mosul , Iraq, is also ground zero for militants. The Syrian city is the capital of ISIS’ so-called caliphate and holds a particular degree of significance to the terrorist group. That’s because it represents the first city the group seized during its rapid accumulation of ground in 2014. Without control over Raqqa, ISIS will quite simply lose any pretense of being considered a state. Here’s a quick overview of the battle as it stands and what lies ahead in Raqqa after coalition forces claimed victory in Mosul this month