EnglishHindi

US-backed Syrian forces seize Raqqa neighbourhood

Damascus, July 17 (IANS) US-backed Syrian forces on Monday said they seized control of a neighbourhood in Raqqa city, the Islamic State (IS) terror group's main stronghold in the war-torn country.Sher

Edited By: IANS Feeds
Published: July 17, 2017, 3:01 PM IST

Damascus, July 17 (IANS) US-backed Syrian forces on Monday said they seized control of a neighbourhood in Raqqa city, the Islamic State (IS) terror group’s main stronghold in the war-torn country.

Shervan Derwish, a spokesman from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), told Efe news agency that his forces captured al-Yarmouk neighbourhood, located near the Euphrates river.

After securing the roads in southern Raqqa and the surrounding city, the SDF advanced and liberated al-Yarmouk on Sunday, according to Derwish.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the SDF dominated only the western sector of al-Yarmouk, while fighting between both sides continued in al-Raqqa’s Old City.

The Britain-based monitoring group added at least three persons, including two women, were killed on Monday in the US-led international coalition bombings.

Since June 6, the SDF has been fighting the IS in Raqqa. The extremists proclaimed a caliphate in 2014 affecting large areas of Syria and neighbouring Iraq.

This is published unedited from the IANS feed.

Add India.com as a Preferred Source Add India.com as a Preferred Source

For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on Latest News on India.com.

By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts Cookies Policy.