(Zaman Al Wasl)- Thuwar al-Raqqa Front representative demanded on Tuesday the front fighters occupy a bigger role in the anticipated Raqqa battle.
Abu Firas al-Jasem, representative of Thuwar al-Raqqa Front in Turkey, demanded that Raqqa does not become a second Tal Abyad in conjunction with advent of American forces to Syria with the start of US backed Syrian Democratic Forces or SDF’s battle against Islamic State north of Raqqa Province.
SDF announced on Tuesday launch of a military campaign against Islamic State in northern countryside of Raqqa backed by International Coalition air force in a press conference for SDF leadership in al-Sharqaraaq attended by Kurdish channels.
Abu Firas al-Jasem told Zaman al-Wasl that north of Raqqa is getting prepared for Raqqa battle pointing out that news about Raqqa people immigrating is not accurate. Locals migration started following media attack and air strikes in the beginning, but the migration decreased and people do not want to leave their homes. A group of people moved to the eastern countryside in al-Karameh area, but it is not a migration movement on a large scale like some saying “Isis asked people to live from mosques broadcasting devices.”
“We are trying to have a bigger role for Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa in the anticipated battle against Isis in Raqqa which is considered Isis capital. Population in Raqqqa welcome our front because the fighters are there sons and we hope that our partners will realize that. We know more of Raqqa than anyone else does,” he added.
Al-Jasem explained that the front does not want another Tal Abyad since Tal Abyad’s case generated a lot of resentment for the local population and Syrians in general. People want a faction that they welcome and which belong to the local population.
PYD close news agency Hawar revealed that 250 fighters from the Navy Force and American Commandos arrived in Syria late on Monday to prepare for a land offensive on Raqqa, Isis stronghold.
Hawar first news piece on Tuesday points out that the offensive on Raqqa is about to start.
This comes after days of General Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. Central Command, visit to SDF training camps in northern Syria.
Official spokesperson of SDF General Tala Silou said to Kurdish Kurd Street Network on Monday that the American General landed in his helicopter in Hasaka to meet with them for three hours before he headed to Ayn al-Arab without specifying the location.
Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter Isis at U.S. Brett McGurk has talked in a press conference in Jordanian capital Amman on 14 May of the coalition intention to pressure Raqqa during the coming period adding that increasing the American troops in Syria will enhance gain of US-backed local forces, SDF.
After his talk, International Coalition dropped pamphlets asking civilians to leave Raqqa city because they plan to attack.
The United States had formed PYD-led SDF alliance in October 2015 to counter Isis. The SDF alliance consists of Jaish al-Thuwar, 5 militias subordinate to PYD, and Aliweyat al-Jazeera, unknown faction where Arab fighters are recruited from recently captured areas south of Hasaka. (Translation by Rana Abdul)
Abu Firas al-Jasem, representative of Thuwar al-Raqqa Front in Turkey, demanded that Raqqa does not become a second Tal Abyad in conjunction with advent of American forces to Syria with the start of US backed Syrian Democratic Forces or SDF’s battle against Islamic State north of Raqqa Province.
SDF announced on Tuesday launch of a military campaign against Islamic State in northern countryside of Raqqa backed by International Coalition air force in a press conference for SDF leadership in al-Sharqaraaq attended by Kurdish channels.
Abu Firas al-Jasem told Zaman al-Wasl that north of Raqqa is getting prepared for Raqqa battle pointing out that news about Raqqa people immigrating is not accurate. Locals migration started following media attack and air strikes in the beginning, but the migration decreased and people do not want to leave their homes. A group of people moved to the eastern countryside in al-Karameh area, but it is not a migration movement on a large scale like some saying “Isis asked people to live from mosques broadcasting devices.”
“We are trying to have a bigger role for Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa in the anticipated battle against Isis in Raqqa which is considered Isis capital. Population in Raqqqa welcome our front because the fighters are there sons and we hope that our partners will realize that. We know more of Raqqa than anyone else does,” he added.
Al-Jasem explained that the front does not want another Tal Abyad since Tal Abyad’s case generated a lot of resentment for the local population and Syrians in general. People want a faction that they welcome and which belong to the local population.
PYD close news agency Hawar revealed that 250 fighters from the Navy Force and American Commandos arrived in Syria late on Monday to prepare for a land offensive on Raqqa, Isis stronghold.
Hawar first news piece on Tuesday points out that the offensive on Raqqa is about to start.
This comes after days of General Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. Central Command, visit to SDF training camps in northern Syria.
Official spokesperson of SDF General Tala Silou said to Kurdish Kurd Street Network on Monday that the American General landed in his helicopter in Hasaka to meet with them for three hours before he headed to Ayn al-Arab without specifying the location.
Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter Isis at U.S. Brett McGurk has talked in a press conference in Jordanian capital Amman on 14 May of the coalition intention to pressure Raqqa during the coming period adding that increasing the American troops in Syria will enhance gain of US-backed local forces, SDF.
After his talk, International Coalition dropped pamphlets asking civilians to leave Raqqa city because they plan to attack.
The United States had formed PYD-led SDF alliance in October 2015 to counter Isis. The SDF alliance consists of Jaish al-Thuwar, 5 militias subordinate to PYD, and Aliweyat al-Jazeera, unknown faction where Arab fighters are recruited from recently captured areas south of Hasaka. (Translation by Rana Abdul)
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