Kurdish-led SDF about to take full control of southern Raqqa from IS

RAQQA, Syria (Kurdistan 24) – The US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are about to claim full control of the southern neighborhoods of Raqqa from the Islamic State (IS), a Kurdish official said on Tuesday.

The unnamed Kurdish official said SDF fighters advancing from the east and west are only separated by a few streets where clashes are ongoing.

“There is a fierce resistance from [IS], so we can’t determine when exactly we’ll take [full control],” the official told Reuters.

“Around 90 percent of the southern neighborhood has been liberated,” the Kurdish official added.

According to the US-led coalition, SDF fighters advancing from the east were about 300 meters away from those pushing from the west.

Coalition spokesman Colonel Ryan Dillon revealed the SDF fighters had also captured nearly 10 square kilometers (four square miles) of territory from IS north of Raqqa in the last few days.

The US-backed SDF, spearheaded by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), launched the Raqqa campaign in early June.

“We’ve seen a less coherent [IS] defense in Raqqa compared to Mosul,” Dillon said referring to the operation against the militant group in neighboring Iraq.

“[IS] is still using car bombs, booby traps, and civilians to hide behind, but their inability to address the multiple advances from the SDF is apparent,” he added.

Full control of southern districts in Raqqa would cut off IS’ last remaining path to the Euphrates River which is located south of the city.

Since its emergence in Syria and Iraq in 2014, the extremist group has lost control of large swaths of territory in both countries.

Editing by G.H. Renaud