Posted on 10/06/2017 7:59:53 AM PDT by Texas Fossil
The (ISIS) jihadists' last remaining strongholds are the central hospital and a nearby stadium – but they are holding civilian hostages in both of them, and both buildings are surrounded by snipers, booby traps and tunnels that emerge behind SDF lines.
Raqqa's hospital, a big complex pocked with bullets holes, lies just 200 yards/metres from the SDF's frontline base. Beyond it is a roundabout where the jihadists once displayed the heads of their enemies, crucified people and held military parades at the height of their expansion.
Commanders say seizing these and the stadium from the few hundred remaining militants is the end goal in the battle for Raqqa.
The two SDF commanders estimated there were no more than 350 militants left in Raqqa and said these were not the elite of the group. Many leaders are believed to have fled to Deir al-Zor where the SDF and Syrian government forces are pressing competing offensives against Isis.
(Excerpt) Read more at ibtimes.co.uk ...
It is TIME for the great evil to be returned to Hell.
The hostages are likely ISIS family members or will-be jihadis. Two MOAB’s should do the trick.
No, they are not. Most of the ISIS families have already left. Were taken to separate place.
The ones left are the unlucky captives. Some Ezidi.
This morning I read the SDF managed to free 65 in a group in Raqqa. Did not specify the location.
Have read that the only part of the stadium with ISIS is the NW corner of stadium (might be free now)
The National Hospital is another matter.
Yesterday there were only 6 districts that were not liberated.
But the stadium and National Hospital are the points of concentration and resistance of ISIS.
Prediction: ISIS will blow up both locations after having slaughtered every living human inside that they can. Goal: Death.
islam is a totalitarian death cult founded by a child rapist.
Yes, in a very hot place.
Japan had hostages in September, 1945.
All of the hostages are dead.
That should be an assumed fact.
Did they use them for human shield?
My grandmother’s closest friend was an Army Nurse in Manilla when WWII began, she went to Corregidor when Manilla fell and spent 2-1/2 years in a (Bataan) POW camp. She wrote a book about her experience there. She retired a Lt. Col. at the time very unusual for Women in the Army. Her husband was also an officer and captive of the Japanese, he was being transported back to the Mainland in Japan and one of our planes sank the ship he was on.
ISIS deserves the most brutal of ends.
Possibly, but the Syrian Kurds in SDF don’t look at it that way. They have been very careful to protect civilians.
They are the ones who are loosing lives.
I’ve only heard of 1 US soldier killed in Raqqa. He was killed in a vehicle rollover. There may have been more, but I’ve read nothing about it if so.
They used Okinawan citizens as human shields during the battle.
Great article and pics!
Those are certainly some ‘reality’ photos of the SDF .....and ‘the rubble’ that’s now so very common throughout Syria where battles have been fought. Not sure how many of the major cities are in tact as all so often shown are rubble...
Steady as they go. Better to let ISIS bleed themselves out sending teams out through tunnels to attack the Kurds from behind, then to try to rush in to their traps. Kill a few dozen a day, while everyone gets good positions, hostages have time to escape, or individuals might surrender.
They can time the assault when they are good and ready. Then the execution can be swift and violent.
They are very good soldiers.
They have paid a dear price. It makes me angry at people who disrespect their bravery.
And most of them are good people in a part of the world where that is very rare.
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