US-backed Syrian forces enter strategic Tabqa city, west of Raqqa
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The US-backed mainly Kurdish SDF have entered the first two districts of the ISIS-held city of Tabqa, west of Raqqa, the de-facto capital of the extremist group.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) attacked the Syrian city on two fronts, entering one district from the eastern side and another west of the city.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the SDF reports, citing what it called “reliable sources.”
The observatory reported heavy clashes between the SDF and ISIS militants overnight, with the mainly-Kurdish forces supported by the US-led anti-ISIS global coalition.
The SDF said it lost two of its members in the clashes, while claiming that it killed more than two dozen ISIS militants.
The advances come as the SDF, a coalition of forces of mainly Kurdish elements, announced the fourth phase of the Raqqa campaign days ago aimed at isolating the ISIS capital from the north.
A senior official said Saturday afternoon that the SDF forces are “a short distance” away from liberating the city.
Hediye Yusuf, a founding member of the self-declared Democratic Federal System of Northern Syria, a regional government announced in Syria, called on the people to prepare for the good news.
Cihan Sheikh Ahmad, spokesperson for the Raqqa operation, told local media ANHA that they have advanced 5 kilometers since they announced the fourth phase of the Wrath of Euphrates operation on Thursday, April 13.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) attacked the Syrian city on two fronts, entering one district from the eastern side and another west of the city.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the SDF reports, citing what it called “reliable sources.”
The observatory reported heavy clashes between the SDF and ISIS militants overnight, with the mainly-Kurdish forces supported by the US-led anti-ISIS global coalition.
The SDF said it lost two of its members in the clashes, while claiming that it killed more than two dozen ISIS militants.
The advances come as the SDF, a coalition of forces of mainly Kurdish elements, announced the fourth phase of the Raqqa campaign days ago aimed at isolating the ISIS capital from the north.
A senior official said Saturday afternoon that the SDF forces are “a short distance” away from liberating the city.
Hediye Yusuf, a founding member of the self-declared Democratic Federal System of Northern Syria, a regional government announced in Syria, called on the people to prepare for the good news.
Cihan Sheikh Ahmad, spokesperson for the Raqqa operation, told local media ANHA that they have advanced 5 kilometers since they announced the fourth phase of the Wrath of Euphrates operation on Thursday, April 13.