Syrian war

Syrian forces begin battle for Raqqa with help of US advisers, airstrikes

Syrian forces aided by U.S. airstrikes and advisers have begun their assault to take back Raqqa from the Islamic State group, the Pentagon confirmed Tuesday.

Several thousand fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces, the umbrella group that also includes fighters from the Syrian Arab Coalition and the Kurdish People’s Protection Forces, or YPG, are massed about 30 to 40 miles north of Raqqa, two senior defense officials told Stars and Stripes on the condition that they not be named. On Tuesday, those forces began to advance toward Raqqa, which is the Islamic State’s primary headquarters in Syria.

“They’re moving on Raqqa now,” said Col. Steve Warren, who is the Baghdad-based spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve.

The Syrian Democratic Forces announced the launch of the operation through its official Twitter account: “With the participation of all [Syrian Democratic Forces] units, we start this operation to liberate northern [Raqqa]” the group said.