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U.S.-Backed Forces Begin Assault on ISIS Stronghold in Syria U.S.-Backed Forces Begin Assault on ISIS Stronghold in Syria
(about 1 hour later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Forces backed by the United States said on Tuesday that they had begun a long-anticipated offensive against Islamic State militants in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of their self-declared caliphate.BEIRUT, Lebanon — Forces backed by the United States said on Tuesday that they had begun a long-anticipated offensive against Islamic State militants in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of their self-declared caliphate.
The forces, made up of Syrian Kurdish and Arab militias backed by American warplanes and called the Syrian Democratic Forces, have over the last month surrounded Raqqa from the east, north and west, targeting the city with intensifying shelling and airstrikes.The forces, made up of Syrian Kurdish and Arab militias backed by American warplanes and called the Syrian Democratic Forces, have over the last month surrounded Raqqa from the east, north and west, targeting the city with intensifying shelling and airstrikes.
Residents of Raqqa say that in recent weeks numerous Islamic State fighters and their families have left the city, heading southeast along the Euphrates River to the city of Mayadeen, in Deir al-Zour province. They say civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure from airstrikes by the United States-led coalition sharply increased as the fighting approached.Residents of Raqqa say that in recent weeks numerous Islamic State fighters and their families have left the city, heading southeast along the Euphrates River to the city of Mayadeen, in Deir al-Zour province. They say civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure from airstrikes by the United States-led coalition sharply increased as the fighting approached.
The Islamic State is expected to make a final stand in the province of Deir al-Zour. Its forces have for some time surrounded 200,000 people in a Syrian government-controlled section of the provincial capital, also called Deir al-Zour.The Islamic State is expected to make a final stand in the province of Deir al-Zour. Its forces have for some time surrounded 200,000 people in a Syrian government-controlled section of the provincial capital, also called Deir al-Zour.
That has set off a race to Deir al-Zour among an array of rival forces that all would like to take control of the nearby Syrian-Iraqi border.That has set off a race to Deir al-Zour among an array of rival forces that all would like to take control of the nearby Syrian-Iraqi border.
Moving east from central Syria and the desert city of Palmyra are forces fighting for the government of President Bashar al-Assad, including Syrian army troops and Iran-backed militias such as Hezbollah. Moving north from rebel-held southern Syria are American-backed insurgent groups. The Syrian Democratic Forces attacking Raqqa also aim to continue southeast to the same area.Moving east from central Syria and the desert city of Palmyra are forces fighting for the government of President Bashar al-Assad, including Syrian army troops and Iran-backed militias such as Hezbollah. Moving north from rebel-held southern Syria are American-backed insurgent groups. The Syrian Democratic Forces attacking Raqqa also aim to continue southeast to the same area.
For now, though, the Raqqa offensive could take a long time and be very bloody, judging from the offensive in Iraq against Islamic State fighters in the city of Mosul, which has stretched for months.For now, though, the Raqqa offensive could take a long time and be very bloody, judging from the offensive in Iraq against Islamic State fighters in the city of Mosul, which has stretched for months.
And its aftermath could be tricky, with many residents fearful of the Kurdish militias involved in the attack. The Syrian Democratic Forces say they will hand power to a local council made up of Arab and Kurdish civilians, but in other places where they have done that, like the city of Manbij, citizens say the councils are just a fig leaf for the militias’ control. And its aftermath could be tricky, with many residents fearful of the Kurdish militias involved in the attack. The Syrian Democratic Forces say they will hand power to a local council made up of Arab and Kurdish civilians, but in other places where they have done that, like the city of Manbij, some citizens say the councils are just a fig leaf for the militias’ control.
The American military said in a statement that the fight for Raqqa would be “long and difficult,” but along with the Mosul battle would “deliver a decisive blow to the idea of ISIS as a physical caliphate.”The American military said in a statement that the fight for Raqqa would be “long and difficult,” but along with the Mosul battle would “deliver a decisive blow to the idea of ISIS as a physical caliphate.”
Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, the commander of the coalition, said in the statement that it would be hard to convince new recruits “that ISIS is a winning cause when they just lost their twin ‘capitals’ in both Iraq and Syria.”Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, the commander of the coalition, said in the statement that it would be hard to convince new recruits “that ISIS is a winning cause when they just lost their twin ‘capitals’ in both Iraq and Syria.”
He added, “We all saw the heinous attack in Manchester, England. ISIS threatens all of our nations, not just Iraq and Syria, but in our own homelands as well. This cannot stand.”He added, “We all saw the heinous attack in Manchester, England. ISIS threatens all of our nations, not just Iraq and Syria, but in our own homelands as well. This cannot stand.”
Airwars, an organization based in London that tracks civilian casualties from international airstrikes, called on all forces to take all precautions to avoid harm to civilians.Airwars, an organization based in London that tracks civilian casualties from international airstrikes, called on all forces to take all precautions to avoid harm to civilians.