RAQQA PROVINCE, Syria/Beirut: An alliance of US-backed militias started a new phase of its campaign against the IS-held city of Raqa on Saturday, aiming to complete its encirclement and sever the road to militant strongholds in Deir al Zor province.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said in a statement the action was being undertaken with “increasing support from the (US-led) international coalition forces” through both air strikes and backing from coalition special forces on the ground.
The SDF, which includes the powerful Kurdish YPG militia, launched its multi-phased campaign aimed at encircling and ultimately capturing Raqa in November. It is the main US partner in the fight against IS in Syria.
Fighting also raged between IS and Syrian government forces northeast of Aleppo, where the Syrian army is nearing the IS-held city of Al Bab, risking a confrontation with Turkish forces that are fighting the group in the same area.
IS is being fought in separate campaigns in Syria by the US-backed SDF, the Turkish army and the Syrian rebel groups it backs, and the Syrian army with help from the Russian air force and militia.
A SDF commander said the forces had so far advanced a few kilometres in the latest phase, which aims to capture areas to the east of the city, including the highway linking it to Deir al Zor province.
Deir al Zor, which is almost entirely in IS hands, stretches all the way to the Iraqi border. A Kurdish military source said on Tuesday that the goals of this phase included capturing the main highway.
Several hundred US special forces soldiers have been supporting SDF operations against IS in northern Syria. France said in June that its special forces were advising rebels in the same area.
Representatives of the US-led coalition looked on as the statement declaring the start of the new phase was read out in a village in northern Raqa province.
This is the third phase of the Raqa operation. The first phase targeted areas north of Raqa city. The second, targeting areas to the west of the city, is ongoing, with SDF forces yet to capture the IS-held Euphrates dam.
Air strikes on Friday in Raqa hit two bridges over the Euphrates river, hindering movement from the city southwards and killing six IS militants, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
US support for the SDF has been a point of tension with Nato ally Turkey, which views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a group that has fought a three-decade insurgency in Turkey.
The United States says it is providing training and material support only to Arab elements of the SDF. It supplied them last month with armoured vehicles for the first time to help in the Raqa campaign.
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week requesting the Pentagon, joint chiefs of staff and other agencies to submit a preliminary plan in 30 days for defeating IS.
One key decision awaiting the Trump administration is whether to directly provide weapons to the YPG. — Reuters
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