(Zaman Al Wasl)- US-backed Syria Democratic Forces backed by US airstrikes on Monday took 5 villages from the Islamic State northeast Raqqa city, bringing them closer to cutting a road linking two major IS-held cities in the country and closing in on the extremists’ de facto capital.
The YPG-led alliance of Kurds and Arabs has been on the offensive toward the city of Raqqa since November. Still, once they approach the city the battle is expected to be bloody and long since the extremists have set up fortifications and have thousands of battle-hardened fighters.
In its turn, ISIS news agency, Amaq, said two SDF fighters were killed in IED explosion in the northern countryside of Raqqa.
Meanwhile, ISIS has been fortifying its self-proclaimed capital of Raqqa. More shields have been installed, landmines have been planted and suicide bomber are ready to defend Raqqa, according to pro-ISIS social media accounts and local monitoring group.
Mohamed Saleh, spokesman for Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently campaign,, said ISIS fighters have dug trenches around the city and in tiny territory its controls in the northern countryside.
ISIS is aware of the imminent war inside the city, so many steps had been taken by the radical group in prepare for guerrilla war.
SDF fighters now control most of the villages and towns north of Raqqa and are gaining ground in eastern areas. The loss of Raqqa would be a major blow to the extremists since it was one of the first cities they fully controlled before declaring a caliphate in June 2014 in large parts of Syria and Iraq.
The YPG-led alliance of Kurds and Arabs has been on the offensive toward the city of Raqqa since November. Still, once they approach the city the battle is expected to be bloody and long since the extremists have set up fortifications and have thousands of battle-hardened fighters.
In its turn, ISIS news agency, Amaq, said two SDF fighters were killed in IED explosion in the northern countryside of Raqqa.
Meanwhile, ISIS has been fortifying its self-proclaimed capital of Raqqa. More shields have been installed, landmines have been planted and suicide bomber are ready to defend Raqqa, according to pro-ISIS social media accounts and local monitoring group.
Mohamed Saleh, spokesman for Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently campaign,, said ISIS fighters have dug trenches around the city and in tiny territory its controls in the northern countryside.
ISIS is aware of the imminent war inside the city, so many steps had been taken by the radical group in prepare for guerrilla war.
SDF fighters now control most of the villages and towns north of Raqqa and are gaining ground in eastern areas. The loss of Raqqa would be a major blow to the extremists since it was one of the first cities they fully controlled before declaring a caliphate in June 2014 in large parts of Syria and Iraq.
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