Syria militants start new operation against Daesh in Raqqah
A US-backed militant group in Syria has started the third phase of an operation against Daesh Takfiri terrorists to advance towards the northern city of Raqqah.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a multi-ethnic anti-government alliance, announced the beginning of the campaign on Saturday.
The SDF "announce the beginning of the third phase to liberate Raqqah and its surroundings, which will target the eastern part of the province," spokeswoman Jihan Sheikh Ahmed said.
The SDF launched its campaign to capture Raqqah in November 2016 and took control of some areas up the Euphrates Valley.
Local SDF commander Rojda Felat did not provide a timeline for the SDF to reach the outskirts of Raqqah, but she said that the group needs additional equipment, including Dushkas (heavy machine guns) and armored vehicles.
So far, the group has reportedly advanced a few kilometers in the eastern areas of Raqqah Province, named by the Daesh as its so-called headquarters in Syria.
The new phase of the operation also aims to sever a highway linking Raqqah to Daesh strongholds in Dayr al-Zawr Province.
The US-led coalition says it is working with the SDF to try to defeat Daesh in the militant-riddled Syrian city. However, there have been numerous reports of US-led airstrikes targeting Syrian civilians, military and infrastructure.
On Friday, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that an airstrike by the US-led coalition purportedly fighting the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group destroyed the water supply system in Raqqah.
Nearly two-thirds of the 30,000 SDF militants belong to the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey considers a "terrorist" group. Although the US insists that it only provides military support to the Arab components of the SDF, Turkey has been enraged by Washington’s support for the group.
Syria has been battling foreign-backed militancy for nearly six years. Over the past few months, the Syrian army has made significant gains against terrorists, including the liberation of the strategic city of Aleppo in late 2016.
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