ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The US-led international coalition says the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have the situation in Raqqa “locked down and fully under control," adding that it doesn’t need the help of the Syrian army to drive ISIS out of its claimed capital.
"We don't need any help ... not from the Syrian regime and we don't want any help," Coalition spokesman Ryan Dillon told Rudaw.
The US Army colonel updated the situation on the battlefield in Raqqa.
"In the southern portion of the city, the east and west axes of advance are within 300 meters of each other. Soon the southern portion will be in control of the Syrian Democratic Forces,” he explained.
The city is besieged on four axes.
"There is no way for ISIS to get out of the city. We have seen some soldiers drop their weapons and intermingle with civilian populations [inaudible],” he detailed.
To prevent ISIS militants infiltrating camps and safe areas along with civilians, Dillon explained there are vetting procedures in place.
"The Syrian Democratic Forces do allow for civilians to leave and there are points for the civilians to get out of Raqqa and into safe territory. And there are checkpoints in place to ensure that ISIS members can't integrate with them without being caught,” he said.
After two months into the Raqqa offensive 50 percent of the city is under SDF control.
"After Raqqa has been taken from ISIS and the local population, those who are from the area, are in control there will be still be ISIS in northern Syria. There are still about 5,000 fighters along the middle of the Euphrates River Valley,” Dillon revealed.
There had been reports of Kurdish fighters pushing south towards Deir ez-Zor, where the Syrian government forces aim to retake.
"As for as Deir ez-Zor, we'll have to see what happens after ISIS has been defeated in Raqqa. We'll have to see where everyone else is on the battlefield.
Dillon maintained that US forces are not actively working with Russians.
"We are not cooperating with the Russians," Dillon said, explaining it is only "de-confliction."
The SDF is a diverse force of 50,000 fighters, supported by the Kurdish-led People's Protection Units (YPG). The US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has said about half of the SDF is Kurdish.
"We don't need any help ... not from the Syrian regime and we don't want any help," Coalition spokesman Ryan Dillon told Rudaw.
The US Army colonel updated the situation on the battlefield in Raqqa.
"In the southern portion of the city, the east and west axes of advance are within 300 meters of each other. Soon the southern portion will be in control of the Syrian Democratic Forces,” he explained.
The city is besieged on four axes.
"There is no way for ISIS to get out of the city. We have seen some soldiers drop their weapons and intermingle with civilian populations [inaudible],” he detailed.
To prevent ISIS militants infiltrating camps and safe areas along with civilians, Dillon explained there are vetting procedures in place.
"The Syrian Democratic Forces do allow for civilians to leave and there are points for the civilians to get out of Raqqa and into safe territory. And there are checkpoints in place to ensure that ISIS members can't integrate with them without being caught,” he said.
After two months into the Raqqa offensive 50 percent of the city is under SDF control.
"After Raqqa has been taken from ISIS and the local population, those who are from the area, are in control there will be still be ISIS in northern Syria. There are still about 5,000 fighters along the middle of the Euphrates River Valley,” Dillon revealed.
There had been reports of Kurdish fighters pushing south towards Deir ez-Zor, where the Syrian government forces aim to retake.
"As for as Deir ez-Zor, we'll have to see what happens after ISIS has been defeated in Raqqa. We'll have to see where everyone else is on the battlefield.
Dillon maintained that US forces are not actively working with Russians.
"We are not cooperating with the Russians," Dillon said, explaining it is only "de-confliction."
The SDF is a diverse force of 50,000 fighters, supported by the Kurdish-led People's Protection Units (YPG). The US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has said about half of the SDF is Kurdish.
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