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On Wednesday, the US-backed Syrian Democratic forces (SDF) took control of the Harqalah area in the western part of Raqqa city. Thus, the SDF entered Raqqa from the western direction after captured few areas in the city’s eastern part yesterday.
US Marines artillery units continued shelling Al-Mashlab district in the eastern part of Raqqa. The SDF captured a major part of it but clashes are still ongoing there.
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According to unconfirmed sources, the US-led coalition targeted ISIS positions inside Raqqa city using HIMARS rocket launchers deployed in the Hasaka countryside.
ISIS sources siad that 14 SDF members were killed in Al-Mashlab district yesterday. Furthermore, according to unconfirmed reports, ISIS fighters foiled a landing operation of the US-led coalition in the southern countryside of Raqqa yesterday.
Satellite images taken on May 20 showed that ISIS didn’t place any fortifications on the main entrances of Raqqa city, but only inside the city.
None of the historical entrance gates to Raqqa’s old city were barricaded by the so-called Islamic State on May 20, satellite imagery shows. pic.twitter.com/9VjRrbUFQp
— Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) 6 June 2017
An air strike by US-led coalition warplanes destroyed a popular credit bank in Raqqa city. A family of five people was killed as a result of US-led coalition military strikes. Another family consisting of 6 people was killed by mines planted by ISIS when they tried to flee Raqqa the SDF-held areas in Hittin farm.
ISIS militants are still able to withdraw from Raqqa via the southern countryside of the city and it seems that the SDF and the US-led coalition actions are aimed at pushing ISIS to do this.
SDF members are inside the recently captured Hewa village:
