I hope that this “pocket cleaning” tactic is being widely used for several reasons.
1. It kills or takes out of action (POWS), hardcore ISIS fanatics who pose a threat to advancing forces by attacking from the rear.
2. It cuts off supply areas and routes as well as escape routes.
3. It gives the good guys more areas from which to operate without fear of small suicide attacks.
4. It is helping to trap diehard ISIS fighters both in Raqqa and Fallujah where they will be killed, thus depriving ISIS of seasons combat troops.
There will be serious civilian casualties but ISIS is using snipers to kill anyone who wants to flee their cities from Raqqa to Fallujah to Mosul.
Wait and see if B-52s are used for spot demolish operations, i.e. blasting mined roads of IEDs, destroying outer defense perimeter checkpoints and embattlements, etc), as well as A10s who will chew up the scenery and spit out ISIS bodies by the pound.
“Wait and see if B-52s are used”
I am definitely waiting to see. I have been wondering ever since they announced that B52’s were being deployed to the region - There must be a target in mind.
A few AC-130H Spectre gunships taking tuns loitering over Raqqa could pile up some jihadi bodies as well.