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| Syria war: 'Final assault' launched to recapture Raqqa | Syria war: 'Final assault' launched to recapture Raqqa |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US-backed forces have launched their final assault on the remaining Islamic State (IS) militants in Raqqa. | US-backed forces have launched their final assault on the remaining Islamic State (IS) militants in Raqqa. |
| The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) says it began the offensive on Sunday, after a convoy of IS fighters and their families left the city overnight, using civilians as human shields. | The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) says it began the offensive on Sunday, after a convoy of IS fighters and their families left the city overnight, using civilians as human shields. |
| No foreign fighters were allowed to join them, and it is unclear how many militants remain in the city. | No foreign fighters were allowed to join them, and it is unclear how many militants remain in the city. |
| IS declared Raqqa the de facto capital of its "caliphate" three years ago. | IS declared Raqqa the de facto capital of its "caliphate" three years ago. |
| The SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, has been besieging the city for nearly four months. | The SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, has been besieging the city for nearly four months. |
| In a statement released as the battle began, the group said they would not stop "until the whole city is clean of the terrorists who refused to surrender, including the foreign fighters". | In a statement released as the battle began, the group said they would not stop "until the whole city is clean of the terrorists who refused to surrender, including the foreign fighters". |
| The battle is still anticipated to take some time, with Colonel Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the US-led coalition, saying they "still expect there to be difficult fighting". | The battle is still anticipated to take some time, with Colonel Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the US-led coalition, saying they "still expect there to be difficult fighting". |
| The SDF's decision to allow some of the militants to leave the city, leaving only a hardcore group of fighters behind, was designed to shorten the fight. | |
| The coalition said "275 local mercenaries and their families" had left Raqqa, according to news agency AP. | The coalition said "275 local mercenaries and their families" had left Raqqa, according to news agency AP. |
| Omar Alloush, an official in the Raqqa Civil Council, said about 400 civilians also joined them. | Omar Alloush, an official in the Raqqa Civil Council, said about 400 civilians also joined them. |
| Mostafa Bali, an SDF spokesman, told Reuters they were human shields who the militants refused to release until their own safety was guaranteed. | Mostafa Bali, an SDF spokesman, told Reuters they were human shields who the militants refused to release until their own safety was guaranteed. |
| But the evacuation did not have the full support of their western backers. | But the evacuation did not have the full support of their western backers. |
| Col Dillon said: "We may not always fully agree with our partners at times. But we have to respect their solutions." | Col Dillon said: "We may not always fully agree with our partners at times. But we have to respect their solutions." |
| The loss of Raqqa will be seen as another blow for IS, which has been steadily losing ground in both Syria and Iraq over the last two years. | The loss of Raqqa will be seen as another blow for IS, which has been steadily losing ground in both Syria and Iraq over the last two years. |
| IS, which attracted fighters from across the globe with its extreme interpretation of Islamic law, used beheadings, crucifixions and torture to terrorise residents who opposed its rule. | IS, which attracted fighters from across the globe with its extreme interpretation of Islamic law, used beheadings, crucifixions and torture to terrorise residents who opposed its rule. |