This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/06/kurdish-led-forces-plan-retake-raqqa-isis

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Kurdish-led forces announce plan to retake Raqqa from Isis Kurdish-led forces announce plan to retake Raqqa from Isis
(35 minutes later)
US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian forces have announced a plan to retake Islamic State’s de facto capital, Raqqa, saying they hope Turkey will not “interfere in internal Syrian affairs”. Kurdish-led Syrian forces backed by the US have announced a plan to retake Islamic State’s de facto capital, Raqqa, saying they hope Turkey will not “interfere in internal Syrian affairs”.
The announcement by the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of Kurdish, Arab and Christian forces, was made on Sunday at a press conference in Ein Issa, north of Raqqa, attended by commanders and spokespeople for the group. An official who read out a statement said the operation to liberate Raqqa, dubbed the “Euphrates Rage” operation, had officially begun. The announcement by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of Kurdish, Arab and Christian fighters, was made on Sunday at a press conference in Ain Issa, 34 miles (55km) north of Raqqa, attended by commanders and spokespeople for the group.
The statement said 30,000 fighters would take part in the operation. An official read out a statement saying the operation to liberate Raqqa, called Euphrates rage, had officially begun.
The announcement came as US-backed Iraqi forces entered the eastern edges of the Isis-held city of Mosul and were working to push deeper into the last Isis urban bastion in Iraq. But the Kurdish officials said the two campaigns were not coordinated, but simply “good timing”. The statement said 30,000 fighters would take part.
The SDF is dominated by the main Syrian Kurdish fighting force known as the People’s Protection Units, or YPG. The United States considers the group to be the most effective force against Isis, but Turkey views it as a terror organisation and claims it is linked to Turkey’s outlawed Kurdish group. Turkish officials including the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, have said they will not accept a role for the Kurds in the liberation of Raqqa. The announcement came as US-backed Iraqi forces entered the eastern edges of the Isis-held city of Mosul and were working to push deeper into the group’s last urban bastion in Iraq. Kurdish officials said the two campaigns were not coordinated, but simply “good timing”.
Turkey’s defence minister last week suggested Turkish-backed forces could be an “alternative” to the Kurds. The SDF is dominated by the main Syrian Kurdish fighting force known as the People’s Protection Units (YPG). The US considers the group to be the most effective force against Isis, but Turkey views it as a terror organisation and claims the force is linked to Turkey’s outlawed Kurdish group, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
But Kurdish officials have rejected any role for Turkey, or the opposition forces it backs inside Syria, in the Raqqa campaign, and US officials have also acknowledged that the YPG will be a major part of any Raqqa offensive. Turkish officials, including the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, have said they will not accept a role for the Kurds in the liberation of Raqqa.
“Our hope is that the Turkish state will not interfere in the internal affairs of Syria,” said an unidentified SDF official at Sunday’s press conference. “Raqqa will be free by its own sons.” Last week, Turkey’s defence minister, Fikri Işık, suggested Turkish-backed forces could be an “alternative” to the Kurds.
But Kurdish officials have rejected any role for Turkey, or the opposition forces it supports inside Syria, in the Raqqa campaign.
An SDF official told the press conference: “Our hope is that the Turkish state will not interfere in the internal affairs of Syria. Raqqa will be free by its own sons.”
There was no immediate comment from Turkey or the US on the Kurdish announcement.There was no immediate comment from Turkey or the US on the Kurdish announcement.
US officials have acknowledged that ousting Isis from Raqqa poses tougher political challenges than the offensive on Mosul, and have suggested the initial stage would involve isolating the city before any forces try to move in. US officials have acknowledged that ousting Isis from Raqqa poses tougher political challenges than the offensive on Mosul, and have suggested the initial stage would involve isolating the city before forces try to move in.
The commander of anti-Isis coalition forces, Lt Gen Stephen Townsend, said last week that American intelligence had detected signs that Isis attacks against western targets were being plotted from Raqqa, adding urgency to coalition plans to encircle and eventually assault the city. The commander of anti-Isis coalition forces, Lt Gen Stephen Townsend, said US intelligence had detected signs that Isis attacks against western targets were being plotted from Raqqa, adding urgency to coalition plans to encircle and eventually assault the city.
“We know this plot-and-planning is emanating from Raqqa. We think we have got to get to Raqqa pretty soon.” “We know this plot and planning is emanating from Raqqa. We think we have got to get to Raqqa pretty soon,” he said last week.
But coalition leaders have been struggling with the timing for the Raqqa campaign, not only because of the demands of the large Iraqi-led Mosul operation but also because the political and military landscape in Syria is more complicated. Townsend said more Syrian opposition fighters needed to be recruited, trained and equipped for the Raqqa battle, but he and other officials have said in recent days that the Mosul and Raqqa operations will overlap. But coalition leaders have been struggling with the timing of the Raqqa campaign, not only due to the demands of the Mosul operation, but also because the political and military landscape in Syria is more complicated.
Unlike in Iraq, where the coalition has a coherent government to work with, the US and its coalition partners in Syria are relying on a hodgepodge of local Arab and Kurdish opposition groups, some of whom are fierce rivals. The tensions are exacerbated by the presence of Russian and Syrian forces on one side and Turkish forces on another. Townsend said more Syrian opposition fighters needed to be recruited, trained and equipped for the Raqqa battle, but he and other officials have said in recent days that the Mosul and Raqqa operations will overlap.
Townsend said, however, that the YPG would necessarily be part of the offensive. Unlike in Iraq, where the coalition has a coherent government to work with, the US and its coalition partners in Syria are relying on a hodgepodge of local Arab and Kurdish opposition groups, some of which are fierce rivals. Tensions are exacerbated by the presence of Russian and Syrian forces on one side and Turkish forces on another.
“The facts are these: the only force that is capable on any near-term timeline is the Syrian Democratic Forces, of which the YPG are a significant portion,” Townsend said. “So, we’re negotiating, we’re planning, we’re having talks with Turkey and we are going to take this in steps.” Townsend said the YPG would necessarily be part of the offensive. “The facts are these: the only force that is capable on any near-term timeline is the Syrian Democratic Forces, of which the YPG are a significant portion,” he said. “So, we’re negotiating, we’re planning, we’re having talks with Turkey and we are going to take this in steps.”