TELL ABYAD, Syria — The Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa (Raqqa Revolutionaries' Brigades), affiliated with the Free Syrian Army (FSA), is one of the factions that has continued to wage war against the Islamic State (IS). In an interview with Al-Monitor, the brigade’s commander, known by the nom de guerre Abu Issa, said that his brigade had joined the Syrian Democratic Forces, which includes Kurdish, Arab, Turkmen and Christian factions, as part of a strategy to combat the terrorism of IS and other extremist organizations. He also said the brigade's war against the Syrian regime continues unabated and emphasized that Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa remains committed to the Syrian revolution, as evidenced by its continuing to raise the Syrian revolutionary flag.

Abu Issa sat for an interview with Al-Monitor on Feb. 10 at one of his headquarters in the Tell Abyad countryside in Raqqa province and continued the conversation by phone in March. 

Al-Monitor:  As part of the Syrian Democratic Forces, what role does Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa play in liberating the Syrian part of upper Mesopotamia and maybe Raqqa in the future? Will you play a pivotal part in operations, or will your participation be limited to being part of a military alliance, as was the case in Kobani?

Abu Issa:  Since their establishment in October 2015, we have comprised an integral part of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which aim to gain control of most of the Syrian part of upper Mesopotamia [which includes Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Hasakah]. Each military faction therein plays a part in combating IS, and our part is equal to any other faction of the Syrian Democratic Forces.