(Zaman Al Wasl)- The US-backed Syria democratic Forces took new array of villages from ISIS in the northern countryside of Raqqa on Thursday, pressing rapid advances the will encircle the group’s de facto capital in very few days.
The Kurdish-led SDF seized control of 15 villages this week from the Islamic State in Deir Ezzor and Raqqa provinces.
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.
Ahmed al-Ali, Hasaka-based activist, said SDF had also seized al-Jweif oil well from ISIS in al-Ruweished region, located between Deir Ezzor and Hasaka.
The 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.
Meanwhile, the US-led coalition warplanes have stepped up its aerial campaign in support of SDF, killing and wounding dozens of civilians.
At least 18 civilians, 8 from the same family, lost their lives since tuesday in airstrikes hit an ISIS-held areas.
The Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently campaign said the US strikes targeted al-Sahhamiya village killing a whole family.
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.
The Kurdish-led SDF seized control of 15 villages this week from the Islamic State in Deir Ezzor and Raqqa provinces.
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.
Ahmed al-Ali, Hasaka-based activist, said SDF had also seized al-Jweif oil well from ISIS in al-Ruweished region, located between Deir Ezzor and Hasaka.
The 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.
Meanwhile, the US-led coalition warplanes have stepped up its aerial campaign in support of SDF, killing and wounding dozens of civilians.
At least 18 civilians, 8 from the same family, lost their lives since tuesday in airstrikes hit an ISIS-held areas.
The Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently campaign said the US strikes targeted al-Sahhamiya village killing a whole family.
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.
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