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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Syrian rebel forces capture 8 villages in Raqqa |
| 2017-01-08 |
| [ARA News] Qamishli – Subsequent to clashes with Islamic State’s (ISIS) militants, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Saturday captured eight villages in Syria’s northeastern Raqqa Governorate, military sources reported. Renewed clashes hit the western countryside of Raqqa, where the SDF continued their operations against ISIS as part of the battle for Raqqa. Supported by an air cover from the US-led coalition, the SDF troops expelled ISIS militants from at least eight villages on Saturday, including al-Tallaj, al-Nasiriya, Um Hajra and Bir Ardai. At least 19 ISIS militants were killed and several others were injured during the clashes. The Kurdish-Arab alliance of SDF also seized a large deal of ammunition and light weapons after pushing ISIS out of large areas in western Raqqa. The SDF reported the liberation of more than 120 villages in the western countryside of Raqqa Governorate since the launch of the second phase of the battle for Raqqa last month. Habun Osman, an SDF officer, told ARA News: “We have liberated 122 villages in western Raqqa since the launch of the second phase of Euphrates Wrath Operation on December 10.” “The clashes are now centred in the vicinity of the strategic Suwaydiya town in Raqqa suburb,” the Kurdish officer said. The US-backed forces also reported the death of more than 300 ISIS jihadists in the past few weeks of military operations. Supported by the US-led coalition, the SDF has so far captured more than 1550 km² in western Raqqa within the second phase of the Euphrates Wrath Operation, that started on December 10. During the first phase of Euphrates Wrath, that was launched on November 6, the SDF captured roughly 560 km² of land in northern Raqqa. The SDF launched the second phase of the Euphrates Wrath Operation with the objective of securing Raqqa’s western countryside and Tabqa Dam, which bridges the Euphrates River. The long-term objective of Euphrates Wrath is the elimination of the Islamic State in its de facto capital, Raqqa city. |
| Posted by:badanov |