ERBIL - A Coalition team working with Syrian partners erected a steel bridge in only 16 hours on Dec. 27, 2017, near the village of Hawi al-Hawa, west of Raqqah Province, Syria.



Engineers attached to the Special Operations Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve led the effort, which allows the Raqqah Internal Security Force to provide security to the people of Raqqah and facilitates greater humanitarian assistance and relief efforts there.



"The bridge provides much needed access to parts of Raqqah following the destruction to critical infrastructure caused by Daesh," said the SOJTF-OIR Commanding General, Maj. Gen. James Jarrard. "The bridge will enable the Raqqah Civil Council to increase required humanitarian assistance efforts and will improve vital access by Improvised Explosive Device experts working to reduce threats to citizens."



Construction of this bridge is a welcome sight to Raqqawis, who were liberated from more than three years of Daesh's brutality in October 2017, the coalition said.



“Since then, Raqqawis have taken on governance of their city through the Raqqah Civil Council, which leads recovery and security efforts and is supported by international aid organizations,” the coalition added in the statement.



"The growing confidence of the Raqqawi population in their ability to return to normalcy is palpable, and the Coalition is proud to stand side-by-side with the RCC in supporting these efforts," Jarrard said.



Coalition forces continue to train and support the Raqqah Internal Security Force as they ensure security and aid efforts that support citizens.



Recently 339 young people graduated from the Raqqah Internal Security Forces. The RISF continue to train in order to bring stability to the region.



The RISF was established provided security to Raqqa now that Raqqa is liberated from ISIS in Raqqa in October last year.



