Posted on 02/21/2017 6:35:05 PM PST by Texas Fossil
Following the capture of 8 villages earlier in the day, the US-backed ‘Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) swept through another five ISIS-held villages in a huge offensive that now has Kurdish forward units stationed at the northern bank of the Euphrates River in a region some 40 kilometers east of the provincial capital of Raqqa.
Syrian Democratic Forces have officially reached the northern bank of the Euphrates River EAST of Raqqa… New batch of villages liberated pic.twitter.com/81MTH9WOi0
— Chris Tomson (@TheDaneChris) February 21, 2017
Effectively, the SDF were able to impose full control over the villages of Al Kajla, Judayat Khabur, Hamad Assaf, Al Kulayb and Al Kulayb and the latter’s Grain Silos.
Further operations are ongoing along the Euphrates River as ISIS militants have left behind several areas without firing a single bullet.
With phase III of the ‘Euphrates Wrath’ offensive firmly underway, the SDF are trying to set its forces up for the final assault on Raqqa city itself.
Meanwhile, 850 locals from Hasakah city were recruited into Kurdish YPG (People’s Protection Units) on Tuesday.
This blocks the ISIS escape route from Raqqa.
Collapse or strategic withrawal?
The CIA has also stopped payin ISIS soldiers.
ISIS seems to have problems sustaining forces in the field, which is suspiciously like an interruption in their logistics.
My, what could have precipitated that?
In the 50s and 60s we used to learn about the “Fertile Crescent” or the area between the Tigris and Euphrates, as the cradle of civilization.
I wonder if they still teach that?
Those in the cradle mention it often.
The teachers in the US probably never mention it.
I am hard pressed to describe some of the events in the Middle East as “civilized”.
USAF
rapid withdrawl.
Now question is where they went. Some probably know what is to come and will try to get out of Dodge. Others will rejoin ISIS to the East.
I believe that the much enlarged SDF and local cooperation, supplemented by US Spec Ops and heavy weapons, ISIS is not going to be around long.
Note the source of this article. It is from Assad’s capital, Damascus. This has the blessing of Assad.
Main road out of the raqqa is south of the Euphrates, for the SDF to cut escape routes they would have to cross the Euphrates to the east and west of raqqa and hold a highway
You mean crying and pooping their diapers?
Ping
ISIS fighters are getting on boats and heading to Europe.
Long way to ocean. If they move in mass, USAF will obliterate them.
They can run, but not fast enough to escape that.
But yes, some of them will escape. All who suffered their abuse will reciprocate. Not an element in Syria, except other Terrorists will shelter them.
They hold a bridge almost in the city. I have no information of when it will begin, but remember the USAF is supporting.
I’d say they are pretty effectively boxed in.
Trump keeping another promise?
Yes.
He intends to destroy ISIS. And General Mattis has the determination to get it done. They have chosen the best path to end it.
Trump and Co. He did say during the campaign that he wanted Generals that would knock the He** out of the enemy. Quickly. Or words to that effect.
el-Falaise pocket? Wipe them out! I saw a youtube the other day of some of these animals slicing a boy’s head off.
Barry leaves, they start losing. What a coinky dink.
He never would have taken the butchers out.
He was taking Saudi money to take down Syria.
ISIS knows what to expect from the SDF (death).
Saw a report that some ISIS leaders/managers have started moving out from Raqqa. They can see the writing on the wall. They are going to need to start spreading some of their folks outside of Syria/Iraq, if they want to have some surviving capability after this Summer. I hear that Sweden gives a sweet welfare package for those fleeing war zones...
Lots of cannon fodder will be left behind to fight to the death in Raqqa. Sounds like ISIS may be pulling their forces in from more exposed rural positions, to concentrate their forces in the more defensible urban areas, where they will have a better kill ratio. That will speed up the operation for a while, at least until the urban assault begins.
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