DAMASCUS, SYRIA (8:00 A.M.) – Fierce clashes continue day and night in a handful of frontline neighborhoods across the provincial capital of Raqqa, resulting in massive devastation.
Gradually inching closer to the ISIS-held city centre, the US-backed ‘Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) restarted their western axis offensive after a week-long hiatus and seized dozens of buildings in the Diriya neighborhood on Tuesday.
However, with advances suddenly grinding to a halt in Raqqa’s eastern suburbs, Amaq Agency confirmed three ISIS suicide bombings took place in the Old City neighborhood on Tuesday alone, resulting in the untimely death of tens of SDF troops.
In a bid to ensure the long-term siege of ISIS-held districts in Raqqa, the Kurdish-led SDF captured a key junction town on Monday on the M4-highway in the southern countryside, thereby foiling any plans of an ISIS counter-offensive aimed at breaking free from encirclement.
In related news, two western foreign fighters of the primary SDF branch, the so-called People’s Protection Units (YPG), were confirmed dead earlier this week.
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