ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continued through their Wrath of the Euphrates Campaign to push into downtown Raqqa city, capturing a security center from ISIS on Wednesday.
SDF forces fought to liberate the security center and traffic center in the Al-Nour neighborhood in downtown Raqqa killing 23 ISIS fighters, read a statement from SDF spokesperson Cihan Shekh Ahmed on Wednesday night.
Ahmed stated progress in Raqqa is happening daily and ISIS is suffering painful blows.
The SDF are an alliance of militias backed by the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. About half of their forces are comprised of the mostly Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).
The Raqqa Campaign also reported continued clashes in the Mansour and Rashid neighborhoods on the eastern side of the encircled city.
SDF began its offensive 94 days ago on June 6.
The US commander charged with overseeing the Operation Inherent Resolve — the US operation to fight ISIS in Iraq and Syria — was rotated on Tuesday.
Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II assumed command from Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend in a ceremony presided over by Gen. Joseph L. Votel, the commander of US Central Command, on Tuesday.
"Our Iraqi partners have liberated Mosul. Our Syrian partners have seized and cleared more than half of Raqqah. And the Iraqis have regained control of Tal Afar and the rest of Ninewah for good measure," said Townsend. "I think what all of this has shown is that our 'by, with and through' strategy works when you have capable partners willing to fight."
Townsend stated the Coalition has trained and equipped more than "11,000 vetted-Syrian counter-ISIS forces."
Between Iraq and Syria, more than 82,000 square kilometers of territory held by ISIS has been recaptured.
SDF forces fought to liberate the security center and traffic center in the Al-Nour neighborhood in downtown Raqqa killing 23 ISIS fighters, read a statement from SDF spokesperson Cihan Shekh Ahmed on Wednesday night.
Ahmed stated progress in Raqqa is happening daily and ISIS is suffering painful blows.
The SDF are an alliance of militias backed by the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. About half of their forces are comprised of the mostly Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).
The Raqqa Campaign also reported continued clashes in the Mansour and Rashid neighborhoods on the eastern side of the encircled city.
SDF began its offensive 94 days ago on June 6.
The US commander charged with overseeing the Operation Inherent Resolve — the US operation to fight ISIS in Iraq and Syria — was rotated on Tuesday.
Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II assumed command from Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend in a ceremony presided over by Gen. Joseph L. Votel, the commander of US Central Command, on Tuesday.
"Our Iraqi partners have liberated Mosul. Our Syrian partners have seized and cleared more than half of Raqqah. And the Iraqis have regained control of Tal Afar and the rest of Ninewah for good measure," said Townsend. "I think what all of this has shown is that our 'by, with and through' strategy works when you have capable partners willing to fight."
Townsend stated the Coalition has trained and equipped more than "11,000 vetted-Syrian counter-ISIS forces."
Between Iraq and Syria, more than 82,000 square kilometers of territory held by ISIS has been recaptured.
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