Raqqa (SyriaNews.media) The Syrian Democratic Forces, on Monday, managed to retake several towns and villages in the northern and western country sides of Raqqa, Qasioun News reported.The Syrian Democratic Forces also advanced toward Mazraet Heteen, Mazraet al-Kahtaneya, Mazraet Rabea, Hawi al-Hawa Village and al-Khatouniya Village, west of Raqqa, after battles with the Islamic State, amid mutual shelling.
The city of Raqqa is suffering difficult humanitarian situation, due to the lack of water, electricity and communications.
Noteworthy, Syrian Democratic Forces recently controlled several areas in eastern, northern and western Raqqa, backed by the international coalition air force.
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The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Monday captured three villages in the northern countryside of Raqqa province, in northeastern Syria, after clashes with ISIS militants.
The US-backed SDF troops took control of the villages of Hawi Hawa, Yaroubiya and Abu Sus.
“Our forces were able to liberate these villages in northern Raqqa after clashes with Daesh terrorists,” a SDF spokesman told ARA News, using another acronym for ISIS.
At least 36 ISIS militants were killed in the clashes, and 20 more were taken prisoners.
“The rest of the militants withdrew towards Raqqa city under heavy blows by the SDF forces,” the official said.
The SDF fighters have tightened their siege on Raqqa city, the de facto capital of ISIS, amid preparations to storm the city in a major military operation support by the US-led coalition.
Kurds, Syrian rebels launch new operations towards Raqqa
[ARA News] The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is announcing on Tuesday the official start of the operation to liberate the city of Raqqa from Islamic State’s (ISIS) militants.
Senior Kurdish officials have confirmed that the SDF is holding a press conference on Tuesday to announce the official start of the liberation of Raqqa city.
The SDF forces will release a statement to launch the final stage of liberating Raqqa, which includes a major assault on the city of Raqqa–ISIS’s de facto capital.
The Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım on Sunday said that the operation began on June 2. However, John Dorian, a spokesman for US-led coalition, said that no end date was set for the start of the liberation campaign. Earlier on Saturday, the official spokesman of the YPG [leading member of the SDF] said the key operation will start in days.
On Monday, the SDF tightened the siege on ISIS in Raqqa city after liberating three more villages in its northern countryside and killing at least 36 ISIS militants.
“The Syrian Democratic Forces continue to close in on ISIS around Raqqa. The SDF has gained about 350 square kilometers from ISIS in the last week. The SDF is poised around Raqqa. They’re within three kilometers of Raqqa City from the north and the east, and are about 10 kilometers from the city to the west,” coalition spokesperson Army Colonel Ryan Dillon said.
“The coalition continues to service ISIS targets with precision air and artillery strikes as the enemy attempts to strengthen their defenses in and around Raqqa. The coalition conducted 59 strikes in support of the isolation of Raqqa this past week, hitting fighting positions, construction equipment, artillery systems and command and control nodes,” he added.
“The Syrian Democratic Forces have given instructions for citizens of Raqqa to vacate. Currently, Raqqa IDPs right now are almost 200,000, with 92,000 of them in camps. Other ones are in settlements that are just built-up settlements,” Dillon stated.
Moreover, he said that the SDF and the Raqqa Civilian Council have made the decision to ask civilians to depart as opposed to staying in Raqqa.
“As far as asking them to leave, that is a decision, just as the decision for the initial stages of Mosul, for civilians to stay, was by the government of Iraq and the Iraqi Security Forces. The same applies here in Raqqa,” he said.
The progress comes as part of the US-backed Euphrates Wrath Operation to liberate Raqqa province from ISIS jihadists.
On 13 April, the Syrian Democratic Forces launched the fourth phase of the Euphrates Wrath Operation against Islamic State’s extremists to clear out the northern countryside of Raqqa.
During the first phase of Euphrates Wrath, which began on November 6, 2016, the SDF liberated roughly 560 km² in Northern Raqqa.
On 10 December, 2016, the SDF launched the second phase of the Euphrates Wrath, during which it captured over 2500 km² in Western Raqqa.
On 4 February, 2017, the Syrian Democratic Forces launched the third phase of the Euphrates Wrath Operation, and liberated dozens of villages in Eastern Raqqa from ISIS jihadists.
The campaign is ultimately aimed at liberating the city of Raqqa from ISIS extremists.