ISIS fighters launched a counter-attack on the positions of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Al-Mashlab and Al-Romania districts in Raqqa city and in Qusra Juma village in the southern Raqqa countryside.
ISIS targeted SDF positions in Al-Romania district with VBIED.
ISIS claimed that 53 SDF fighters were killed during the assaults. Kurdish sources argued that the SDF didn’t lose any point to ISIS.
From its side, the SDF officially announced it controls only 60% of Hittin district, while pro-Kurdish had argued last week that the entire district was under the full control of the SDF.
Footage of the clashes that took place in Hattin neighbourhood in Raqqa city. pic.twitter.com/qPcJWq6C58
— Afarin Mamosta (@AfarinMamosta) 22 June 2017
It became clear that ISIS improved its defense and increased its counter-attacks on SDF positions inside the city.
The US-led coalition announced that it carried out 26 airstrikes in the past 48 hours, most of them in Raqqa City to support the SDF.
It also confirmed that the Marines were working 24/24 providing a fire support for the SDF in the Battle of Raqqa.
According to opposition sources, 16 civilians including four children lost their life in Raqqa City during the past 24 hours because of the bombing of the US-led coalition.
Moreover, according to Turkish officials, the US have told Turkey that it will take back weapons supplied to the Kurdish YPG militia in northern Syria after the defeat of ISIS.
This Turkish claim is yet to be confirmed, but if true this is something that the SDF may worry about, especially after burning almost all the bridges with all other sides of the conflict.
