The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) inched forwards in al-Raqa’s Old City against fierce resistance on Wednesday (July 5th), after penetrating the heart of the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) bastion, AFP reported.
The Arab-Kurd alliance entered the historical quarter after coalition airstrikes punched two holes in its ramparts late Monday.
ISIS deployed four weaponised drones and several suicide bombers in vehicles against the advancing fighters, said Nuri al-Mahmoud, a spokesman for the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), fighting under the auspices of the SDF.
"The SDF advanced and captured the strategic Saif al-Dawlah road leading towards the Old Mosque," al-Mahmoud said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the SDF had pushed forwards about 200 metres by midday on Wednesday.
"They are now approximately 300 metres from the Old Mosque -- within firing range of it," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.
