A screenshot from the video
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continued clashing with ISIS in the 17th Division base north of Raqqa city. The SDF has not been able to capture a key part of the strategic base so far. However, the SDF has succeeded in capturing the village of Hamrat Bouitiya in east of Raqqa. Thus, the SDF deployed in 3 km from the eastern entrance to the city.
Furthermore, SDF has repelled an attack by ISIS militants on its positions in the village of Mazloum in the western Raqqa countryside.
YPG-led SDF fighters continue their advance towards Raqqa, from the north and east of the city#Raqqa #SDF #MMC #YPG #YPJ pic.twitter.com/HD0rGHbzM0
— CLAUDIA (@ClaudiaAlMina) May 20, 2017
The SDF has blamed ISIS for flooding in parts of Raqqa becase of to a temporary collapse of the dam. However, local sources said that the SDF is responsible for flooding of the Raqqa streets. The goal is to flood tunnels and ditches belonging to ISIS militants and to push civilians to live the city.
From its side, ISIS claimed the killing of three PKK militants with an IED planted on the Al-Ghazali road in the northern Raqqa countryside.
ISIS also claimed the killing of a PKK commander with an IED on a road between the village of al-Qantari and the town of Solok in the northern Raqqa countryside.
it seems like there are mostly women in the SDF/YPG/PKK from the footage ive seen, and very few women in SAA, i wonder why this is. and i highly doubt ISIS flooded raqqa, why the hell would they do that to their own capital?
The videos you see are frequently of women fighters of the YPJ – a PR campaign most likely to showcase the fact that women play a key role in Kurdish-led combat operations. As for the flooding of Raqqa, it’s not confirmed one way or the other who is responsible, but there are indications it was ISIS who opened the dams to the west of the city. Why, I’m not sure. It certainly doesn’t seem rational, and perhaps there is an element of surprise in store. It very well could have been the SDF for the reasons listed above. Better that the citizens of the villages in the area have a viable excuse to uproot then to be slaughtered wholesale by ISIS for attempting to flee for no other reason than they want to escape. Who knows.