The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have reportedly killed 312 ISIS fighters since the start of the battle for Raqqa city.
The SDF claimed that large numbers of Syrian ISIS fighters have surrendered to the SDF with the help of intermediaries from Raqqa city.
The US-backed group added that it has taken full control of the southern bank of the Euphrates River south of Tabqah town. However, ISIS still controls Al-Qamb and Mustajid Naqib villages south of Raqqa.
Separately, the SDF announced that 216 Arab and Kurdish fighters from Raqqa city joined the SDF ranks over the past few days. They will participate in the battle of Raqqa.
انضمام 216 مقاتل عربي و كردي من أبناء #الرقة إلى #قوات_سوريا_الديمقراطية #قسد من اجل المشاركة في #معركة_الرقة وتحريرها من ظلم #داعش pic.twitter.com/tEaeJh7OkF
— قوات سوريا من الجبهة (@QSD_Jabha) 22 June 2017
Opposition sources claim that the SDF enforces Arabs to fight in their ranks. However, these allegations have not been proven so far.
According to a report by Al-Aan TV reporter, Janan Musa, from Raqqa city, the most serious challenge for SDF fighters in the battle of Raqqa is ISIS tunnels, IEDs and ISIS armed drones as well as thousands of civilians remaining inside the ISIS-held areas.
وسائل الاعلام تدخل مناطق الرقة المحررة من قبل قوات #قسد وتنظيم #داعش يستخدم الطائرات المسيرة لقتل المدنيين الفارين#الحسكة#دير_الزور pic.twitter.com/Lbg7YiiU5F
— قوات سوريا من الجبهة (@QSD_Jabha) 23 June 2017
