Local sources report that fighters of the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have liberated several villages close to the Tabqa area in west Raqqa.

A Pentagon spokesman said the U.S. military has provided an airlift for Syrian fighters taking part in an offensive underway on the town of Tabqa, west of the Islamic State group's stronghold of Raqqa.

Eric Pohan said that U.S. military advisers are also on the ground in the Tabqa area to help coordinate the operation. He noted that no U.S. troops are doing front-line fighting and declined to say how many U.S. troops are involved or what kind of aircraft were used to ferry the Syrian fighters to the area.

Pohan remarked that "this is significant as a strategic target" and if successful, the operation would "basically cut ISIS off" from western approaches to Raqqa, the de facto ISIS capital. Pohan said Tabqa is an important ISIS-held area because it includes a dam that provides electricity to the area, as well as a military airfield.

SDF is expected to make a statement regarding their ongoing advance towards the strategic area.