A screenshot from the video
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have recently captured the villages of Thoul Nayel, Hamrat Buwaytiyyah, Al-Qadisiyah and Muddar in the eastern and northeastern Raqqa countryside after fierce clashes with ISIS in which 15 ISIS fighters were killed.
التحالف الدولي: قوات #سوريا الديمقراطية #قسد حررت 350 كم مربع خلال اسبوع لتضيق الخناق على تنظيم #داعش في حملة تهدف لعزله بالكامل في #الرقة pic.twitter.com/wSTEW22ZLF
— قوات سوريا من الجبهة (@QSD_Jabha) May 19, 2017
In the northern Raqqa countryside, the SDF managed to break into the base of the 17th Division, which is considered one of the most important ISIS defense sites in the vicinity of Raqqa city. Clashes in the base are still on going.
ISIS militants launched two attacks on the positions of SDF fighters and alleged Kurdistan Workers’ Party members in the village of Omariya in north of Raqqa and the village of Al-Salhabiah al-Sharkiah western of Raqqa. ISIS claimed that it managed to kill and injure some PKK fighters and seize their weapons during the attack.
The ISIS-linked news agency Amaq published photos showing ISIS militants targeting alleged PKK positions in the village of Kashish Jabour, south of Al-Shadadi, with mortars.
Click to see the full-size image
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The US-led coalition announced that the SDF managed to capture 350 square kilometers in the vicinity of Raqqa city in the last week. The goal of the effort was to isolate the city.
According to SDF sources, there are 3000-4000 ISIS militants currently in Raqqa city, and it is expected that ISIS is going to fight the SDF inside the city.
3000- 4000 مقاتل من تنظيم #داعش متحصنون في مدينة الرقة يخطط التحالف وقوات #سوريا الديمقراطية وحلفائهم العرب لسحقهم جميعا في حملة تحرير الرقة pic.twitter.com/hh20YvYrvt
— قوات سوريا من الجبهة (@QSD_Jabha) May 19, 2017
Apparently there is a sandstorm in Raqqa ongoing and will also hit Deir ezzor.