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Syrian rebel training new recruits for Raqqa fight
[ARA News] Raqqa – In cooperation with the US-led counter-terrorism coalition, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) organized a military training for new recruits. The SDF trained 365 new Arab fighters from Raqqa this week to participate in the Euphrates Wrath Operation, a campaign aimed at liberating Raqqa from ISIS.Talal Silo, the official spokesman of the Syrian Democratic Forces, told ARA News that the anti-ISIS coalition assisted in organizing the training to further the SDF capabilities in the fight for Raqqa. “This is the second military training for the SDF to prepare new factions in this camp. The training was facilitated and supported by the US-led coalition” Silo said. “The newly trained fighters will join the Euphrates Wrath Operation.” The Syrian Democratic Forces launched the battle for Raqqa on November 6. Under the banner of Euphrates Wrath Operation, the campaign proceeds stage by stage with the goal of isolating and eventually liberating Raqqa from ISIS. Thousands of Arab fighters have joined the Kurdish-led SDF forces in the battle for Raqqa. Some of the new SDF factions previously fought under the Free Syrian Army while others used to operate independently. The new SDF-led factions include the Syrian Elite Forces, Raqqa Revolutionaries Brigade and the Deir Ezzor Military Council. Imad Menno, and SDF military trainer, said that US Special Forces played a key role in training the new SDF recruits. “Coalition experts have participated in training our forces on combat skills,” Menno told ARA News. The SDF was formed with the start of the cooperation between the Kurdish forces of People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the US-led coalition. Then dozens of Arab factions joined the Syrian Democratic Forces’ ranks. The SDF umbrella expanded after these forces expelled ISIS from major areas in northern Syria. The SDF and the US-led coalition have liberated 37 km2 so far as part of the second phase of the operation. During the first phase of Euphrates Wrath, SDF soldiers captured an area measuring approximately 560 km2.The long-term objective of Euphrates Wrath is the elimination of the Islamic State in its de facto capital, Raqqa city. Military sources told ARA News that more than 200 ISIS jihadists have been killed since November 6. Cihan Shekh Ehmed, an SDF spokesperson, declared that the “operation will continue until all of its goals are accomplished.” Video report at the link Posted by: badanov 2016-12-17 |
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