ISIS Uses Civilians as Human Shields in Syria
As U.S.-backed forces bear down on the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, the Islamic State (ISIS) has taken the strategy of hiding behind civilians further than ever, effectively using the entire population as shields. This makes escape impossible for 300,000 people still trapped inside the terror group's de facto capital.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are now positioned just five miles from the city's edge on the northeast and militants have taken measures to prevent their entry. Rolls of huge tarpaulin mats have been stretched for blocks in the city center to cover the terrorists' movements from spy planes.
Hundreds of families who live in tents on the streets are vulnerable to fighting. Militants are moving in with families and mingling among civilians. All men have been ordered to wear the jihadis' "Afghan" garb of baggy pants and long shirts so attackers will be unable to distinguish militants from civilians.
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Coalition warplanes regularly drop leaflets warning civilians of impending strikes. More than two million leaflets have been dropped in two weeks only adding to the confusion. One suggested people move closer to the Euphrates but another warned that boats crossing the river will be struck.
Some ISIS fighters have cashed in on this desperation by smuggling people out of Raqqa for a fee. They have begun charging $300–500 but the price recently shot up to $1,000, a sum far beyond the means of any Syrian. Once outside, the escapees face the danger of land mines, arrest at ISIS checkpoints or get caught in a crossfire.
Those who make it to SDF-controlled territory may be refused entry on suspicion of being ISIS infiltrators or sympathizers.
"The people really don't know where to go," an activist said, adding that residents were caught between airstrikes, land mines and militants hiding among civilians.
