Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Battles Between SDF and ISIS Rage in Raqqa’s Countryside | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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The battle for Raqqa has begun to have a huge negative impact on the lives of civilians, hundreds of whom have been displaced due to violent clashes and exchanges of fire between Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that are backed by the international coalition on one hand, and ISIS on the other.

On the other side of Raqqa, the Manbij Military Council is engaged in violent confrontations with ISIS and was able to seize control of a town called Al-Areema in the north eastern countryside of Aleppo. The Kurds indicated that the areas that they are liberating will remain under their control, and that they will treat the Turks as “an occupying forces” if they made any advances.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “fierce battles took place in the regions of Al-Kalita and Khaneez which are located in the northern countryside of Raqqa, between ISIS fighters and the SDF which are supported by the international coalition’s aircraft”. He added that the international coalition “is trying to progress in the region, expand further and take control of more areas having succeeded since the 6th of November in making advances on and seizing 48 farms, villages and locations in the countrysides of northern Raqqa and Ain Esa”.