Iraq News

Fierce clashes as SDF battles ISIS in Syria's al-Raqa

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters fought fierce battles Thursday (June 8th) as they tried to push further into the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) group's Syrian bastion of al-Raqa, two days after finally entering the northern city, AFP reported.

The SDF alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters began the battle for the city earlier this week after seven months of fighting to surround the extremist stronghold.

On Wednesday, an AFP journalist entered the city with SDF fighters and witnessed heavy clashes in the al-Meshleb neighbourhood, with ISIS firing multiple mortar rounds towards the advancing forces.

He said part of the neighbourhood was under SDF control but coalition planes were still carrying out strikes against ISIS fighters elsewhere in the district, one of the largest in al-Raqa.

SDF fighters were armed mostly with light weapons including Kalashnikovs, and were also returning mortar fire on ISIS positions.

They were trying to conceal their vehicles from attack by armed drones dispatched by ISIS fighters, a favoured technique of the group in its battles in Syria and Iraq.

The SDF did not allow journalists to return to the city on Thursday where fighting was continuing.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said the SDF now controlled around two-thirds of al-Meshleb and was some 400 metres from the neighbouring al-Senaa district.

"ISIS has snipers monitoring al-Meshleb neighbourhood and has laid mines extensively throughout it," the Observatory said.

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