Posted on 04/18/2017 2:27:09 PM PDT by Texas Fossil
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Tuesday took over the radio station of ISIS in the city of Tabqa in Raqqa province.
“The Syrian Democratic Forces made new progress in the city of Tabqa, taking control of the ISIS radio station,” Jesper Söder, a Swedish volunteer with the Syrian Democratic Forces told ARA News.
“The areas liberated by the SDF are used by civilians who escape the ISIS terrorists. The Syrian Democratic forces cleared all mines laid by Daesh [ISIS] around and in the village of Kabbash, west of Tabqah,” he said.
The SDF fighter told ARA News that Tabqa city could be liberated soon. “Maybe in a few days it is liberated,” he said.
Until now there are still several thousands of civilians stranded in the town of Tabqa amidst continued fighting between ISIS and the SDF forces.
SDF officials said they are trying to open safe corridors to secure the civilians.
In mid March, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), with their Syrian Arab Coalition fighters, launched a multi-pronged offensive behind enemy lines to liberate the Tabqa Dam from ISIS. Apache helicopters, U.S. Marine artillery and special operation troops were part of this operation to drop SDF fighters near Tabqa city.
“The Coalition supported this offensive with air movement and logistical support, precision airstrikes, Apache helicopters in close air support, Marine artillery, and special operations advice and assistance to SDF leadership,” the US-led coalition said in a statement.
So far, ISIS is still resisting.
“We are advancing in to Tabqa area everyday. But there is really hard resistance from Daesh [ISIS],” SDF member Söder told ARA News.
“So, we thought that the operation for the Raqqa city would start in April, but Daesh have put up a hard fight. I think we should have beaten them in Tabqa already, but they have good positions to defend themselves and even from aircrafts,” Söder said, adding: “A lot of human shields are being used by Daesh [ISIS].”
Retaking Tabqa would enable the SDF forces to storm Raqqa city–the de facto capital of the ISIS self-proclaimed Caliphate.
Soon this will be over and they work of liberating Raqqa will begin. There is some talk of negotiations of ISIS leaders wanting to make a deal to exit Raqqa. That would reduce the civilian deaths. And probably allow some ISIS animals to escape. (but to the south it is open country, escape might be fleeting. USAF might take care of that.)
Syria Ping
Breaking and unconfirmed:
ISIS #2 commander Hasab Allah Al Qawqazi aka Emir Qawqazi was shot dead near his house in Tal Afar in western Mosul city, yesterday.
Disputed and unconfirmed:
Russian spec. ops have been tracking Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi for several days along the Syrian-Iraqi border and reports are that they have captured him and possibly killed him.
This comes from European Department for Security and Information (DESI) intercepts of Russian communications. Russia denies it.
Good news if true.
There is also a report from Russian sources that Al Baghdadi has been captured by Russian & Syrian forces. Not yet confirmed.
Progress my friend.
http://www.desiagency.eu/consiglio-direttivo/?lang=en
At least they picked the right acronym DESI for dezinformatsiya ;-)
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