U.S.-backed Syrian force in new phase of Raqqa assault

[rooster59]

U.S.-backed Syrian force in new phase of Raqqa assault

By Rodi Said and Tom Perry

 

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters dance in the north of Raqqa city, Syria February 3, 2017. Picture taken February 3,2017. REUTERS/Rodi Said

 

RAQQA PROVINCE, Syria/BEIRUT (Reuters) - An alliance of U.S.-backed militias started a new phase of its campaign against the Islamic State-held city of Raqqa 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 (U.S.-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 Raqqa in November. It is the main U.S. partner in the fight against Islamic State in Syria.

Fighting also raged between Islamic State 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.

The Syrian army captured a town from IS to the south of the city on Saturday, while the Turkey-backed forces captured one to its east, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

Islamic State is being fought in separate campaigns in Syria by the U.S.-backed SDF, the Turkish army and the Syrian rebel groups it backs, and the Syrian army with help from the Russian air force and Iranian-backed militia.

A SDF commander told Reuters the forces had so far advanced a few kilometres (miles) 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 Islamic State hands, stretches all the way to the Iraqi border. A Kurdish military source told Reuters on Tuesday that the goals of this phase included capturing the main highway.

Several hundred U.S. special forces soldiers have been supporting SDF operations against Islamic State in northern Syria. France said in June that its special forces were advising rebels in the same area.

Representatives of the U.S.-led coalition looked on as the statement declaring the start of the new phase was read out in a village in northern Raqqa province.

PHASE THREE

This is the third phase of the Raqqa operation. The first phase targeted areas north of Raqqa city. The second, targeting areas to the west of the city, is ongoing, with SDF forces yet to capture the Islamic State-held Euphrates dam.

Air strikes on Friday in Raqqa 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.

U.S. 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 Raqqa campaign.

U.S. 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 Islamic State.

One key decision awaiting the Trump administration is whether to directly provide weapons to the YPG.

The U.S.-backed campaign against Islamic State in Syria has focused mostly on northern parts of the country. Turkey launched its own offensive against the group along the border in August, deploying its army in support of Free Syrian Army rebel groups.

The Turkish campaign, which also aims to prevent further expansion of YPG control, has been encountering fierce Islamic State resistance in al-Bab since December.

Syrian government forces have staged a rapid advance of their own towards al-Bab in the last two weeks.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-05

 

[Srikcir]

17 hours ago, rooster59 said:

U.S. 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 Islamic State.

What happened to Trump's secret plan to defeat ISIL within 30 days of his presidency? No carpet bombing of civilian populations or assassinations of anyone related to an ISIL militant as he promised.

Hopefully, the military will advise Trump to let them do the job they've been doing successfully working with US partners, albeit disguise the plan as a Trump initiative so he can take all the  credit for ISIL's defeat.

[craigt3365]

7 hours ago, Srikcir said:

What happened to Trump's secret plan to defeat ISIL within 30 days of his presidency? No carpet bombing of civilian populations or assassinations of anyone related to an ISIL militant as he promised.

Hopefully, the military will advise Trump to let them do the job they've been doing successfully working with US partners, albeit disguise the plan as a Trump initiative so he can take all the  credit for ISIL's defeat.

Seems Trump doesn't tell the truth most of the time.  This site rates 70% of his comments as mostly false or outright lies.  Amazing people still believe him.

 

http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/