SDF Begins Raqqa Offensive, Progress Continues in Mosul

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SDF Begins Raqqa Offensive, Progress Continues in Mosul

SOUTHWEST ASIA, June 6, 2017 — The Syrian Democratic Forces and their Syrian Arab Coalition partners launched the offensive to unseat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria from its so-called “capital” of Raqqa in northern Syria today.

The SAC and SDF began marching on Raqqa in November and have been rapidly tightening the noose around the city since their air assault behind enemy lines in coalition aircraft in March to begin the seizure of Tabqah.

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**Army Lt. Gen. Steve Townsend, the commander of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, said the fight for Raqqa will be long and difficult, but the offensive would deliver a decisive blow to the idea of ISIS as a physical caliphate saying, “It’s hard to convince new recruits that ISIS is a winning cause when they just lost their twin ‘capitals’ in both Iraq and Syria,” he said. **

“We all saw the heinous attack in Manchester, England,” Townsend said. “ISIS threatens all of our nations, not just Iraq and Syria, but in our own homelands as well. This cannot stand.”

Coalition forces will continue to support the SAC and SDF during their Raqqa offensive as part of their ‘advise and assist’ mission, providing equipment, training, intelligence and logistics support, precision fires and battlefield advice.

defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1203944/sdf-begins-raqqa-offensive-progress-continues-in-mosul/

 

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** U.S. Bombs Iranian Militia in Syria, As Fight For Raqqa Begins**

American warplanes bombed an Iranian-backed militia that entered a supposed no-go zone near a U.S garrison in southern Syria on Tuesday, U.S. officials said.

The strike marked the second by a U.S. aircraft in less than a month and signals a growing risk of direct conflict between American and Iranian forces and their partners in Syria. The air raid came after the militia aligned with the Syrian regime and Iran failed to heed a warning to leave the area.

U.S. officials said that the force of about 60 fighters armed with tanks and anti-aircraft weapons entered an exclusion zone around the base at al Tanf, where American Special Operations Forces train Syrian rebels. Before unleashing their bombs, American military officials first contacted their Russian counterparts who are allied with the Iranian-backed force. But when the new column refused to leave, the Americans struck. It is unclear how many casualties resulted.

In a statement, U.S. Central Command said the coalition “does not seek to fight Syrian regime or pro-regime forces but remains ready to defend themselves if pro-regime forces refuse to vacate the de-confliction zone.”

yahoo.com/news/u-bombs-iranian-militia-syria-203543211.html