British PM says IS territorial defeat 'historic milestone'

Prime Minister Theresa May said Saturday the fall of the last bastion held by Islamic State (IS) jihadists in Syria marked "a historic milestone", paying tribute to British and coalition forces.

"The liberation of the last Daesh-held territory is a historic milestone that would not have been possible without their commitment, professionalism and courage," she said in a statement, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

"I commend the tireless work and extraordinary courage of the British forces and our global coalition partners that have fought Daesh in Syria and Iraq."

Kurdish-led forces among the 79 international partners pronounced the death of the nearly five-year-old "caliphate" Saturday after flushing out IS jihadists from their last redoubt in Baghouz, eastern Syria.

Britain, which has suffered from multiple terrorist attacks in recent years by perpetrators said to have been inspired by IS, has vowed to remain focused on fighting the group and securing the region.

"We must not lose ...