USA: Breaking through the old wall is a key milestone in the conquest of Raqqa

The US envoy to the international coalition fighting the Islamic State, Brett McGurk, said today that breaking through the old wall around the Syrian city of Raqqa represents a "key turning point" in capturing that city, which is a stronghold of extremists. Syrian fighters supported by the US entered the old part of Raqqa today, through the holes created in the old wall of Rafiq, after the bombing of the international coalition that hit "two small parts" of that wall. The rest of the wall, 2.500 meters long, was not damaged in the air strikes. In this way, the lines of defense of the jihadists of the Islamic State in the heart of their "capital" Raqqa were breached, which is a great success in the battle for that Syrian city. Activists say that clashes between the US-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Islamic State jihadists are intensifying in Raqqa's Old City. The Syrian Democratic Forces have occupied several neighborhoods of Raqqa since they entered the city on June 6, and air support from the US-led international coalition is key to their progress despite fierce resistance. According to estimates, there are about 100.000 civilians and about 2.500 jihadists in Raqqa. Islamic State jihadists captured Raqqa in January 2014, and it was their first stronghold in a major city. The loss of Raqqa will not spell the end for the Islamic State in Syria, as the group still controls parts of Raqqa province, most of neighboring Deir Ezzor province, as well as areas in Homs, Hama and Hasakah provinces. At the same time, in Iraq, the government forces, with the help of the Americans, are trying to expel the jihadists from the last pocket under their control, in Mosul, where the extremists are increasingly resorting to suicide attacks. The offensives on Raqqa and Mosul, which the Islamic State captured in 2014, have been going on for months.

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