The sports category has moved to a new website.
ADVERTISEMENT

Anti-IS forces struggle to gain ground in Raqa

The Syrian Democratic Forces penetrated Raqa's Old City earlier this week after US-led coalition air strikes pierced two holes in its ramparts.

A fighter of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces fires a machine gun during their advance into the Islamic State group stronghold of Raqa on June 21, 2017

The Syrian Democratic Forces penetrated Raqa's Old City earlier this week after US-led coalition air strikes pierced two holes in its ramparts.

But the SDF and a unit of allied Arab fighters called the Syrian Elite Forces have made little progress inside the historical quarter, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.

"IS is using car bombs, mortar fire, and snipers to wage a counter-offensive inside the Old City," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Observatory estimates that up to 30 percent of Raqa has been captured by the US-backed forces since they entered the city on June 6.

Mohammad Khaled Shaker, a spokesman for the Syrian Elite Forces, told AFP there had been no notable advance on Friday.

"There are some clashes, but we have not reached the city centre yet," he told AFP.

IS overran Raqa in early 2014 and it has since become infamous as the de facto Syrian capital of the group's so-called "caliphate".

An estimated 2,500 jihadists are left defending Raqa, according to the US-led coalition.

ADVERTISEMENT

The global alliance is providing the SDF with air cover, weapons, equipment, and special operations forces on the ground as advisers.

The Observatory reported on Thursday that the coalition delivered a large shipment of weapons, ammunition and armoured vehicles to the SDF via Iraq.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: news@pulselive.co.ke

Recommended articles

Marianne Kitany tactfully speaks on whether Ruto should fire her ex, CS Linturi

Marianne Kitany tactfully speaks on whether Ruto should fire her ex, CS Linturi

Gov't & opposition officials clash at Rita Tinina's burial ceremony

Gov't & opposition officials clash at Rita Tinina's burial ceremony

CS Murkomen unveils new number plates for cars that will get preferential treatment

CS Murkomen unveils new number plates for cars that will get preferential treatment

Moi University students escape through windows after road crash

Moi University students escape through windows after road crash

57,000 civil servants to have their rent reviewed upwards

57,000 civil servants to have their rent reviewed upwards

Interesting story of U.S. Army Specialist Wambui who comes from a military family

Interesting story of U.S. Army Specialist Wambui who comes from a military family

Heroic GSU officer dies after jumping out of a taxi along Thika Super Highway

Heroic GSU officer dies after jumping out of a taxi along Thika Super Highway

DJ Joe Mfalme detained for 14 more days

DJ Joe Mfalme detained for 14 more days

Explosive blows up hotel next to police station, deaths reported

Explosive blows up hotel next to police station, deaths reported

ADVERTISEMENT