|
7th july Raqqa Update: The Old City is getting hollowed out.
 [SouthFront.org] Map!Syrian rebels claim quarter of city captured [ARA News] Dr. Nasr Haji Mansour, a senior SDF advisor, said in an exclusive interview with ARA News that until now 25 per cent of Raqqa city has been retaken. “More than 25% of Raqqa city is liberated from ISIS terrorists. It looks like it [the anti-ISIS Raqqa operation] will last a little bit more, may be one month if surprises won’t happen, and if the advancement goes like this,” Mansour said. Also, US Colonel Joe Scrocca, the Coalition’s Director of Public Affairs, confirmed the SDF’s rapid advance. “The SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces] is making significant progress on several axes against heavy ISIS resistance in Raqqa,” Col Scrocca said. The colonel refused “to put a timeline on these efforts” but struck a positive note, saying: “The liberation of Raqqa will be a significant achievement in the Coalition’s mission to defeat [ISIS] by, with, and through our partner forces.” Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend, the commander of the anti-ISIS Coalition, told CBS news last week that the battle for Raqqa was just getting under way. “I think we’re in the first 25-30% of the campaign for Raqqa […] We’re just getting started.” Canadian Armed Forces Brigadier General D.J. Anderson told reporters on Thursday that the SDF has made significant progress. “Our partner force in Raqqa, the Syrian Democratic Forces, have just completed the first month of offensive operations to defeat ISIS in their self-declared capital,” he said. “The SDF have taken about 45 square kilometers of ground from ISIS in and around the city of Raqqa this past week. On Monday night, the SDF gained a foothold into the old city of Raqqa by breaching the ancient al-Rafiqa Wall, and they are now progressively pushing further into the city,” he said. “The SDF are exerting pressure on ISIS from four different fronts throughout the city. With a push to the east along the southern portion of the Euphrates River, ISIS is now completely encircled by SDF forces,” said General Anderson. “The fight in Raqqa is going well, but we know there will be tough days ahead. However, I’m confident that our partner forces are up to the task,” he concluded. Posted by: Frozen Al 2017-07-08 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=492055 |