IS cornered in Raqqa, breathing last breaths: Coalition commander

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Islamic State (IS) is cornered in Raqqa and breathing its “last gasps,” a senior US-led coalition commander said on Thursday.

The battle to eradicate the extremists from Raqqa, their de facto capital and major stronghold in Syria, will be tough but the group is nearing defeat, the coalition commander told AFP.

The senior commander, speaking on condition of anonymity at a compound near Kobane, said the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have effectively trapped IS militants inside Raqqa where they can’t escape.

“It’s a tough fight. There’s a lot of [IS] foreign fighters there that don’t want to give up and intend to fight very hard,” said the coalition commander who is assisting and advising the SDF.

“They’re isolated in this small section that’s left, but they’re not isolated alone,” he noted, adding there were civilians and family members trapped inside the city along with the extremists.

On possible withdrawal negotiations with IS fighters, similar to a joint Syria-Lebanon deal with IS late last month, the commander said dialogue with militants “would be unacceptable.”

“The enemy inside Raqqa needs to surrender or be destroyed in Raqqa because if they sneak out, they’ll find a way to get to Europe or neighboring countries, or attack places outside of Syria,” he explained.

In addition to the Raqqa offensive, US-backed forces are currently advancing in the east bank of the Euphrates River in Deir al-Zor Province, southeast of Raqqa, near the Iraqi border.

The SDF, spearheaded by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), began their campaign against IS in Raqqa in early June.

The US-led coalition is supporting both SDF battles in Raqqa and Deir al-Zor with air strikes, special operations advisers, weapons, and other military equipment.

Editing by Ava Homa