Counter-ISIS Forces Make Gains in Raqqa
On Tuesday, April 11, U.S.-backed forces fighting Islamic State (ISIS) advanced to within two kilometers from the east of Raqqa and have reached the highway linking the city with the capital Damascus. In so doing, they thwarted a counterattack by militants near Tabqa city.
"Our fighters managed to reach the highway from the western front of Raqqa, Damascus," the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) made up of Syrian Arab and Kurdish forces told Rudaw. "During the operation, approximately 10 terrorists were killed in addition to seizing weapons and ammunition."
The SDF is preoccupied in the campaign to recapture Raqqa, ISIS' de facto capital and key stronghold. A major part of the campaign is to take ISIS' main urban base of Tabqa, some 40 kilometers west of Raqqa. SDF has encircled the city from the north, east and west, according to Reuters.
The campaign began in November 2016 and has been moving at a snail's pace. Militants are attacking from both inside Tabqa and areas to its south which ISIS still holds. They are also using car bombs, mortar fire, suicide bombers and human shields to slow down the SDF's advance.
Despite the setbacks, the U.S. coalition remains upbeat on how the campaign is progressing. Air Force Col. John Dorrian reported that government forces have cleared the territory east and north of Raqqa of the enemy and are now nearing positions to enable them to assault the city.
"Our coordination with the Syrian Democratic Forces is outstanding. They continue to make progress to the west of Raqqa near Tabqa Dam. They are very close to liberating these areas — and they're isolating Tabqa," Dorrian said. "Once this area has been completely freed from Daesh control, then we'll also continue to work with them towards the eastern side of Raqqa to isolate the city further. Then at a time of our and our partner's choosing, they'll move in and they'll liberate that city from ISIS."
