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 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/15/syria-raqqa-fear-us-air-strikes-isis
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Syrian city of Raqqa gripped by fear of US air strikes on Isis | Syrian city of Raqqa gripped by fear of US air strikes on Isis |
| (8 months later) | |
| The city where the western hostages slain by the Islamic State (Isis) terror group were held is nervously preparing for an onslaught. Each night since Barack Obama said he would bomb Isis targets in Syria, residents of the eastern city of Raqqa – those who support the group and those who abhor it – have sat in fear waiting for the air strikes to begin. | |
| Many believe that the city's civilians will pay the price of a campaign to root out Isis, which after controlling Raqqa for more than a year is now well embedded in its ramshackle neighbourhoods and entwined into much of its social fabric. | Many believe that the city's civilians will pay the price of a campaign to root out Isis, which after controlling Raqqa for more than a year is now well embedded in its ramshackle neighbourhoods and entwined into much of its social fabric. |
| Isis has run Raqqa with impunity since it ousted the Syrian regime in mid-2013, fearing no foe and ruthlessly imposing its worldview on a population that has been unwilling to confront them. | Isis has run Raqqa with impunity since it ousted the Syrian regime in mid-2013, fearing no foe and ruthlessly imposing its worldview on a population that has been unwilling to confront them. |
| There is widespread revulsion at Isis's brutal ways. Most know of the beheadings of the hostages. The same sort of summary slaughter takes place most days in the city's main square – routine killings without hearing or mercy. Many families say they have stopped taking their children to public parks. | There is widespread revulsion at Isis's brutal ways. Most know of the beheadings of the hostages. The same sort of summary slaughter takes place most days in the city's main square – routine killings without hearing or mercy. Many families say they have stopped taking their children to public parks. |
| It is Raqqa's silent, seething anti-Isis rump on whom the US and its regional partners will depend to eventually rise up. But before that happens, the spectre of a deadly air assault is terrifying many. | It is Raqqa's silent, seething anti-Isis rump on whom the US and its regional partners will depend to eventually rise up. But before that happens, the spectre of a deadly air assault is terrifying many. |
| "I believe most of the casualties will be civilian," said Abu Mohammed, 33, a shopkeeper. "The majority will be from Raqqa and very few from Isis. Many of our young men in the city have joined Isis either because of fear or because of the wages they give, which is $400 (£246) per month. This is a very good salary for us here." | "I believe most of the casualties will be civilian," said Abu Mohammed, 33, a shopkeeper. "The majority will be from Raqqa and very few from Isis. Many of our young men in the city have joined Isis either because of fear or because of the wages they give, which is $400 (£246) per month. This is a very good salary for us here." |
| Abu Mohammed said he had adapted to the group's hardline rule and saw Isis as a better option than the regime of Bashar al-Assad. "We are afraid that after the US air strikes, the regime will take control of the city. Assad is a criminal and his regime is brutal. We had bad experience with the Free Syria Army [FSA], they are corrupt and now we are getting used to Isis's Islamic rules. Day after day, they are getting better with people." | Abu Mohammed said he had adapted to the group's hardline rule and saw Isis as a better option than the regime of Bashar al-Assad. "We are afraid that after the US air strikes, the regime will take control of the city. Assad is a criminal and his regime is brutal. We had bad experience with the Free Syria Army [FSA], they are corrupt and now we are getting used to Isis's Islamic rules. Day after day, they are getting better with people." |
| Abu Maya Al-Raqawi, 40, a media worker from the city, said: "Some people are already fleeing the city as they know that civilians are going to be the real victims for these air strikes. Raqqa will be completely destroyed. We all know that Isis are spreading themselves among civilians and they occupy the FSA and old regime headquarters, which are in civilian areas. People in Raqqa have to deal with two evils, Isis or Assad. Which one is better? I don't know the answer." | Abu Maya Al-Raqawi, 40, a media worker from the city, said: "Some people are already fleeing the city as they know that civilians are going to be the real victims for these air strikes. Raqqa will be completely destroyed. We all know that Isis are spreading themselves among civilians and they occupy the FSA and old regime headquarters, which are in civilian areas. People in Raqqa have to deal with two evils, Isis or Assad. Which one is better? I don't know the answer." |
| A construction worker who identified himself as Khalid, 31, said that without ground support for the air strikes, an already feeble supply of humanitarian aid would slow further. "We are already facing a health crisis as the hospitals are suffering from the lack of medicine and they can't cope with the current casualties," he said. | A construction worker who identified himself as Khalid, 31, said that without ground support for the air strikes, an already feeble supply of humanitarian aid would slow further. "We are already facing a health crisis as the hospitals are suffering from the lack of medicine and they can't cope with the current casualties," he said. |
| "Isis could have been stopped a long time ago but no one did so and now they all want to attack them. Isis has been created to deface Islam and sharia. What they are doing right now is a real damage to our society. There are no fair trials and we are witnessing a disaster. | "Isis could have been stopped a long time ago but no one did so and now they all want to attack them. Isis has been created to deface Islam and sharia. What they are doing right now is a real damage to our society. There are no fair trials and we are witnessing a disaster. |
| "If they knew I was speaking to you right now, I would be beheaded in Na'em Square just because I was speaking to foreign media. There wouldn't be a trial for me to justify why they would kill me. | "If they knew I was speaking to you right now, I would be beheaded in Na'em Square just because I was speaking to foreign media. There wouldn't be a trial for me to justify why they would kill me. |
| "My prediction of what will happen is the west will get rid of all of the Islamic militias and filter the remnants so that only the FSA will prevail, and then they will turn to Assad. The west want the FSA and some clean members of the Baath party to lead Syria in the future." | "My prediction of what will happen is the west will get rid of all of the Islamic militias and filter the remnants so that only the FSA will prevail, and then they will turn to Assad. The west want the FSA and some clean members of the Baath party to lead Syria in the future." |
| Ali, 38, a lawyer, said Isis had changed its profile after Obama's speech. "I can sense the nervousness within Isis members," he said. "I don't see them roaming our streets like they were a couple of months ago. I'm fed up with Isis and the current situation. I don't want my kids to grow up in this mess. At this stage, I don't mind if the devil rules us instead of Isis. I love Raqqa, it's my city and I don't want to leave. If someone has to leave Raqqa, it must be Isis and their militias." | Ali, 38, a lawyer, said Isis had changed its profile after Obama's speech. "I can sense the nervousness within Isis members," he said. "I don't see them roaming our streets like they were a couple of months ago. I'm fed up with Isis and the current situation. I don't want my kids to grow up in this mess. At this stage, I don't mind if the devil rules us instead of Isis. I love Raqqa, it's my city and I don't want to leave. If someone has to leave Raqqa, it must be Isis and their militias." |
| Women have been especially affected by Raqqa's new hardline rule, which greatly restricts their studies and movements. "I left university in Raqqa as Isis shut them down and I now travel to Aleppo to study," said Reem, a student. "I have to wear the Islamic dress code Isis forced on all women – a long black abaya, gloves, and my face covered with only my eyes showing. We are harassed by Isis if we don't dress according to them. Most girls are depressed here with the situation. We want our lives back and we want our schools and universities to reopen." | Women have been especially affected by Raqqa's new hardline rule, which greatly restricts their studies and movements. "I left university in Raqqa as Isis shut them down and I now travel to Aleppo to study," said Reem, a student. "I have to wear the Islamic dress code Isis forced on all women – a long black abaya, gloves, and my face covered with only my eyes showing. We are harassed by Isis if we don't dress according to them. Most girls are depressed here with the situation. We want our lives back and we want our schools and universities to reopen." |
| Abu Mohammed, 26, said: "We see dead bodies in the city – women, men, children who have been slaughtered and their stinking bodies lying in the street for days. People are disgusted by what Isis is doing. There are some in the city who support them but the majority is against them." | Abu Mohammed, 26, said: "We see dead bodies in the city – women, men, children who have been slaughtered and their stinking bodies lying in the street for days. People are disgusted by what Isis is doing. There are some in the city who support them but the majority is against them." |
| Additional reporting Mais al-Bayaa, Saalim Rizk | Additional reporting Mais al-Bayaa, Saalim Rizk |
Previous version
1
Next version