This map shows the military situation in the area of the ISIS-held city of Raqqah in Syria on March 21, 2017.
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), predominantly consisting of the People’s Protection Units (YPG), have recently taken control of Karamah, Tal Fatisah, Khardal, and the Balasim oil storage east of Raqqah.
It appears that the SDF has Daesh figured out which enables them to take quite a bit of territory quickly without much fighting.
Years of experience fighting ISIS, consolidating its hold on Rojava and training with the US coalition have paid off. With Assad’s forces facing a series of setbacks via rebel assaults around Damascus and now Hama, it’s highly likely that the SDF will capture Raqqah and not the SAA. With Raqqah in its possession and a direct line of control over the northern banks of the Euphrates the SDF can begin sweeping south-easterly and liberating more villages from ISIS control. All signs point to a significant long term victory for the Kurdish people in both Syria and Iraq in terms of their desires for furthered autonomy.