Syria: ‘Next phase’ of Raqqa advance begins as Daesh conquers Palmyra

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has today confirmed that its Syrian partners have initiated the “next phase” in their advance to isolate and eventually recapture Daesh’s self-proclaimed Caliphate capital of Raqqa.

According to a CENTCOM press release issued today, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a largely Kurdish-dominated force with small contingents of auxiliary armed Arabs, the initial phase of the SDF’s advance saw it make remarkable gains against the extremist organisation.

“During the initial phase of isolation efforts, our Syrian partners have proven their ability in battle, pushing ISIL back and destroying ISIL heavy weapons, vehicles, fortifications [and] IED facilities,” CENTCOM said, using another acronym for Daesh, and continuing to list various other targets that the SDF apparently succeeded in capturing or destroying.

CENTCOM also added that the SDF had “liberated dozens of villages and more than 700 square miles of ISIL-held terrain” and that the US-led Coalition had assisted them through not only training and armaments but also by conducting hundreds of airstrikes.

“Since the start of the operation the Coalition conducted more than 300 strikes delivering more than 850 munitions in support of its partners on the ground to enable the isolation of [Raqqa] and the defeat of ISIL in Syria.”

The US-backed, Kurdish-dominated forces began their push on Raqqa on 5 November and have faced sporadic resistance from Daesh militants.

However, far from being defeated, Daesh stormed through the Russian and Assad regime-held city of Palmyra and recaptured it in its entirety over the weekend, after it initially lost the city last March.

This makes any advance towards Raqqa fraught with doubt, as Daesh has proven it can not only strike, but capture territory across the country in tactics similar to its raids of major Iraqi towns and cities since the operation to recapture Mosul began on 17 October.