in syrias raqa antiis fighters advance at night
Wednesday 19 March 2025
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

In Syria's Raqa, anti-IS fighters advance at night

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleIn Syria's Raqa, anti-IS fighters advance at night

A member of the Syrian Democratic Forces
Raqa - Muslimchronicle.

Faced with an onslaught of weaponised drones, mortar rounds and snipers, US-backed fighters in Syria's Raqa say the cover of night is a good ally against Islamic State group jihadists.

The Syrian Democratic Forces are battling to oust the extremists from the northern city after breaking into its first neighbourhood last week.

After piercing into and taking the southeastern district of Al-Meshleb, the SDF fighters are now advancing towards the Old City.

In the daylight hours, at an apartment in Al-Meshleb, the Kurdish-led fighters catch some rest or sip tea after a night on the front line at the edge of the city's historic centre.

"We prefer to fight in the dark as we have thermal binoculars and weapons equipped with night vision scopes," says 20-year-old Kawa, giving his nom de guerre.

"There was fighting last night but not for long. The jihadists withdrew rapidly, faced with our attacks," says the cleanly shaven SDF fighter.

On the flat's balcony, he tries to liaise on a walkie-talkie with a fellow fighter at the front, but on the other end his colleague comes under fire.

"IS is attacking our positions with mortar fire. I'll get back to you when the bombardment stops," the fighter on the other end of the line says.

In Al-Meshleb, SDF fighters sometimes run into shops and houses to avoid IS weaponised drones.

Tolhildan Botan points to one such small unmanned aircraft at the foot of a wall in the district, which he says fellow fighters had shot down.

"This is the kind of drone they use to target gatherings of fighters or military vehicles. Sometimes they even target civilians," says the SDF fighter, who did not give his age.

- 'Faster' at night -

Baran Hassake, a fellow fighter, says battling the jihadists is easier at night.

"We advance and gain ground faster and they struggle to respond to our attacks," the 18-year-old says, his head wrapped in a red scarf embroidered with green flowers.

"We know now their tactics," Hassake says, boasting of knowledge acquired by the SDF, who have recaptured several former IS bastions in Syria.

Empty mortar rounds litter the ground, while the corpses of jihadists at times can be seen in the rubble of destroyed buildings.

The US-led coalition backing the SDF has also been intensifying its air strikes at night, SDF commanders and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor say.

The United Nations on Wednesday warned of the danger for civilians of "excessive" air strikes on the city, where it says around 160,000 remain.

The SDF has retaken three neighbourhoods since entering the city on June 6, including Al-Senaa next to the Old City on Thursday.

This latest advance will allow SDF fighters to launch an assault on the Old City in Raqa's densely populated centre, which contains key IS positions.

On another balcony in Al-Meshleb, Mesaab al-Hussein looks out across Al-Senaa and towards the historic city walls of ancient Raqa, which date back to the Abbasid caliphate.

From 796 to 809, the powerful caliph Harun al-Rashid transferred the capital of his empire from Baghdad to Raqa, which sat at the crossroads of key trade routes.

"The SDF are nearing a part of the wall known as Baghdad gate," Hussein says.

Pointing to an IS flag in the distance, he adds: "We will liberate the entire city."

Source: AFP

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

in syrias raqa antiis fighters advance at night in syrias raqa antiis fighters advance at night

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 07:21 2017 Monday ,18 December

MP warns of increasing corruption

GMT 01:18 2012 Friday ,14 September

Al-Qaeda flags in Cairo

GMT 11:48 2017 Monday ,16 October

Thousands flee Iraq's Kirkuk

GMT 20:15 2017 Saturday ,15 April

Clashes between opposition, governmental forces

GMT 15:11 2017 Friday ,03 February

Pietersen fined over Big Bash mic comment

GMT 09:25 2017 Friday ,24 February

Top Philippine drug war critic arrested, but defiant

GMT 13:03 2016 Monday ,26 December

Shenzhou-11 astronauts honored with medals

GMT 18:26 2017 Thursday ,19 October

Seven dead in India firework factory blast

GMT 11:58 2017 Sunday ,23 April

Japan, US, South Korea to Meet on North Korea

GMT 11:38 2011 Sunday ,22 May

Outsourcing back on the agenda in region

GMT 11:38 2018 Friday ,12 January

Syria regime battles jihadists for airbase

GMT 15:32 2011 Wednesday ,27 April

German consumer sentiment to fall: GfK poll

GMT 07:25 2018 Tuesday ,02 January

Israel charges Palestinian woman

GMT 19:53 2017 Wednesday ,23 August

Amouta organized training camp

GMT 19:21 2011 Sunday ,10 April

Japanese PM: \"we will never abandon you\"

GMT 08:21 2017 Wednesday ,27 September

Brazil oil field auction to test government's ambitions
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle