RAQQA, SYRIA (June 6, 2017) – US-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced the operation to capture Raqqa City from ISIS today. Shortly after the announcement several villages around the city were captured by the SDF: Marmah Darwish and Mazraat Hattin – north of Raqqa, Nazhah – east of Raqqa. By capturing these villages, ISIS was further narrowed into Raqqa.

Several local sources now confirmed our information that Syrian Democratic Forces also managed to enter and capture the entire eastern district of Raqqa called al-Mashalab. Many US-akirstrikes and artillery shelling are paving the way for such rapid advances in the city. However the Syrian Democratic Forces will face much more resistence by ISIS in dense areas in the city center.

You can also visit our interactive Syrian Civil War Map to see the changes better.