US-backed forces cut off Islamic State in Raqqa
The Syrian Democratic Forces have surrounded the Islamic State’s Syria stronghold.
Separate contingents of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) ringing the Islamic State (IS) bastion of Raqqa have converged, dealing another sharp blow to the surrounded militants.
Brett McGurk, the US special envoy to the counter-IS campaign, confirmed the news Thursday evening, tweeting that the move was a “milestone” that is “tightening the noose” around IS. Last week, SDF detachments fighting to take back control of the city from IS were just 300 feet apart, Pentagon officials said.
According to Col. Ryan Dillon, a coalition spokesman, the SDF has now claimed 50% of Raqqa. Dillon said the Arab-led Raqqa Internal Security Force that will be tasked with holding the city after its liberation now has 1,000 personnel.
“I would say that there are no safe havens in Syria where they can plot attacks safely,” Dillon said at a Defense Department press briefing on Thursday. “If they have headquarters, if they're planning, if they're conducting external operations, they do not have sanctuary in Iraq and Syria.”
