In this picture taken on Oct 16, 2017 and provided by The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces outlet that is consistent with independent AP reporting, shows a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter, waves his Kurdish party flag at the front line where they battle against the Islamic State militants, in Raqqa, Syria. (SYRIAN DEMOCRATIC FORCES VIA AP)

DAMASCUS – It's time to expose the crimes of the US-led coalition in killing thousands of civilians in Syria's northern Raqqa province by airstrikes and shelling, the Syrian foreign ministry said on Monday night. 

In a statement, the ministry said that the US-led coalition must be held accountable for the "war crimes" committed in Raqqa, the former de-facto capital of the Islamic State, in 2017. 

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"The US military operation launched by the coalition forces on Raqqa between June and October 2017 led to the almost complete destruction of the city and the extermination of thousands of civilians whose bodies were buried under the rubble," the statement read. 

It added that such practices are among the most heinous crimes which deserve more attention from the international community. 

The extent of the damage to infrastructure, private and public properties, and the number of casualties testified that the United States and its allies perpetrated war crimes and crimes against humanity, according to the ministry. 

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This Sept 5, 2017 shows smoke billowing out following a coalition air strike in the western al-Daraiya neighborhood of the embattled northern Syrian city of Raqqa. (DELIL SOULEIMAN / AFP)

"Syria reserves its right in holding governments of states that were involved with the US-led coalition the political, moral, and legal responsibility for the crimes perpetrated by the military forces and for the losses and damage that affected the private and public properties," it said.