FILE IMAGE
Brett McGurk, US special envoy for the coalition against ISIS, said that at least 2000 ISIS fighters are still inside Raqqa city and they are willing to fight.
“Most likely [they] will die in Raqqa,” McGurk added. “Today in Raqqa ISIS is fighting for every last block … and fighting for their own survival.”
On Saturday, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) further advanced in Nazlat Shehada district in the southern part of Raqqa city, according to pro-kurdish sources. SDF fighters killed 5 ISIS fighters and seized several weapons and ammunition.
In Al-Rawda district in the eastern part of Raqqa city, SDF fighters killed 7 ISIS members. Other 3 ISIS fighters were killed in Al-Barid district in the northern part of the city.
Furthermore, SDF fighters managed to evacuate dozens of civilians from Raqqa after they had opened a safe route in Nazlat Shehada district.
المدنيون يفرون من الاشتباكات بين #داعش و #قسد في #الرقة ويصلون الى المناطق المحررة التابعة لـ #قوات_سوريا_الديمقراطية pic.twitter.com/IGx6kbPWl2
— قوات سوريا من الجبهة (@QSD_Jabha) 5 August 2017
فتحت #قسد ممر جديد جنوب #الرقة لتسمح للمدنيين بالنزوح من الاحياء التي يتواجد فيها جرذان دولة الخرافة #داعش pic.twitter.com/0Pi88Pt5Qf
— قوات سوريا من الجبهة (@QSD_Jabha) 5 August 2017
From its side, the ISIS-linked News Agency Amaq published photos of ISIS attacks on SDF inside Raqqa.
Other Amaq photos showed an ISIS DIY armed drone attack on a SDF vehicle in Raqqa.
The SDF will soon receive armored bulldozers to protect its troops from ISIS VBIEDs inside Raqqa city, according to pro-kurdish sources. The Iraqi Forces had successfully used armored bulldozers during the Battle of Mosul.
