RAQQA, Syria (Reuters) – Syrian Democratic Forces are pressing their offensive against Islamic State (IS) in Raqqa, advancing further towards the city centre.
One fighter said they were advancing quickly against IS, noting that mines left by IS militants were slowing down their progress towards the city centre.
Video footage obtained by Reuters showed a number of fighters gathering, testing drones and preparing military equipment.
The Syrian Democratic Forces, made up predominantly of Kurdish fighters, have seized territory to the north, east and west of Raqqa a city of about 200,000 that served as Islamic State’s base of operations for more than three years.
Islamic State fighters are close to defeat in the twin capitals of the group’s territory, Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria, after nearly three years ruling over millions of people in a wide swathe of territory in both countries.