IS de facto capital Raqqa under heavy assault
ADVERTISEMENTA US backed Syrian coalition of Kurdish and Arab groups have made advances into Raqqa the de facto capital of the so-called Islamic State group.
Syrian Democratic Forces began its push to retake Raqqa earlier this month and in the last 24 hours have taken control of the Qadisia district to the west of the city.
US forces have launched air and artillery strikes as well as targeting the IS hierarchy.
US-backed #SDF forces advance in #Raqqa . https://t.co/x8uLa9KvAEpic.twitter.com/UXI95JEwI9
— Sarwan wllatzheri (@Sarwan_barzanii) June 26, 2017
Turki Binali, a Bahraini cleric and the jihadists top religious authority and Fawaz al-Rawi an IS financier are reported dead.
BREAKING: SDF have liberated one new district inside of Raqqa & have also liberated a village in the outskirts of Raqqa. #SDF#Raqqapic.twitter.com/65Rx4FzKen
— Efrin Xanaqin (@EfrinXanaqin) June 25, 2017
However, the inroads have come at a price with hundreds of civilians paying with their lives.