![The Public Relations Office of the Syrian Democratic Forces holds a meeting with a delegation of al-Raqa tribes to discuss the situation and security in the city. [Photo courtesy of the Syrian Democratic Forces]](/cnmi_di/images/2018/06/25/13244-SDF-tribes-Raqa-700_496.webp)
In response to the threat of extremist infiltration, al-Raqa's Internal Security Forces imposed a two-day curfew in the northern Syrian city that went into effect Sunday morning (June 24th) and is set to end at 5 a.m. Tuesday.
The Internal Security Forces said they imposed the curfew after receiving intelligence that extremist groups working with the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) were planning to infiltrate the city and carry out attacks.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) confirmed they are backing the Internal Security Forces in the ongoing operation, which has already netted a number of individuals involved in terror plots.
A number of arms and explosives caches also have been uncovered.
![A market in rural al-Raqa, where commercial activity has picked up in the post-ISIS era. [Photo courtesy of Syrian Democratic Forces]](/cnmi_di/images/2018/06/25/13246-Raqa-rural-market-700_496.webp)
A market in rural al-Raqa, where commercial activity has picked up in the post-ISIS era. [Photo courtesy of Syrian Democratic Forces]
"The decision to impose a curfew in al-Raqa came after intensive consultations between Internal Security Forces in the city, the SDF and al-Raqa civil council," SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali told Diyaruna.
The curfew was imposed to safeguard the lives of residents during the operation, which set out to find the hideouts used by ISIS and its affiliates, he said.
The security operation began Saturday evening, he said, almost in conjunction with the declaration of curfew.
Hours into the operation, it has already yielded good results, Bali said.
Documents and other evidence that confirms the involvement of the individuals in acts of terrorism has been seized, he said, adding that the results of the operation will be revealed in an official statement upon its conclusion.
Heavy deployment
The SDF and Internal Security Forces have blocked all the entrances to the city and are deploying heavily in all neighbourhoods in parallel with the ongoing sweep operations, Bali said.
The crackdown is directed at sleeper cells that recently carried out several bombings and opened fire on civilians, security forces and the SDF, he added.
On Friday, ISIS claimed its first attack in al-Raqa since being ousted last October, announcing through a propaganda media channel that it had detonated a roadside bomb north-east of the city, AFP reported.
An SDF fighter was also killed on June 15th at a checkpoint north of al-Raqa, in what the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said was an ISIS attack.
And earlier this month, five police officers linked to the SDF were killed in a roadside blast during a routine patrol in al-Raqa city.
ISIS did not claim responsibility for either incident.
