DW: 'Islamic State' (IS) fighters evacuate as battle for Raqqa nears end
A US-backed alliance of militias said "Islamic State" (IS) fighters had evacuated the city of Raqqa, taking civilians with them as human shields. US-backed forces have almost completely taken Raqqa.
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, were battling the last "Islamic State" (IS) fighters in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa on Sunday.
On Saturday, the SDF had agreed to a proposal that allowed Syrian IS jihadists to leave the city. IS' foreign fighters were excluded from the evacuation deal.
"Last night, the final batch of fighters (who agreed to leave) left the city," said SDF spokesman Mostafa Bali, adding that no foreign fighters had left the city. The SDF later said in a statement that around 275 local fighters and their families had left as part of the deal.
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WNU Editor: With most of the ISIS fighters gone, the final push to retake the city has probably started already. I suspect that the coalition will take its time .... no one wants to be the last one killed in a fight where the end is so near. Therefore .... expect more air strikes in the coming days to clear out the remaining city blocks under ISIS controlled.
More News On The Final Push To Take Raqqa
Islamic State fighters use human shields during final coalition push to re-take Raqqa -- ABC News Online
Evacuation ends as ISIL defeat in Syria's Raqqa nears -- Al Jazeera
US-allied forces begin final assault on IS in Syria’s Raqqa -- Washington Post/AP
US-Backed Syrian Forces Launch 'Final' Assault In Raqqa -- Radio Free Europe
No foreign fighters allowed to leave Raqa: local council -- AFP
2 comments:
They obviously left a road open to encourage ISIS to flee
Somebody thinks they are needed elsewhere. Think of Kuwait and the highway of death episode.
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