ISIS News 2017: US-Syrian Force Cuts Off ISIS Supply Lines to Raqqa in Daring Raid
A coalition operation led by the United States dropped off a contingent of Syrian opposition forces behind the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) lines in what U.S. officials called a daring raid to cut off ISIL forces from one of the last remaining major supply lines to Raqqa.
In a statement they made last week, March 22, U.S. officials revealed the operation to occupy Tabqa dam to be one of the biggest and most elaborate support operations done by the United States to date, with the local forces battling the Islamic State in Syria, according to a report by USA Today.
The US-led coalition flew local forces in place as allies covered the area with artillery and fire support from helicopters, according to military spokesperson Col. Joe Scrocca. In addition, Special Forces troops were also providing support to the local Syrian forces. In the same statement, the military also revealed that 300 air strikes were conducted around the Tabqa and Raqqa area in a span of four months, killing hundreds of enemy fighters and destroying ISIL fortifications and vehicles.
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Preparations for the capture of Raqqa, de facto ISIL stronghold, is currently ongoing, as reported in an in-depth feature by Al Jazeera. Although there could be confusion on when the actual assault will be launched, French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian made a statement that "the operation to capture the city from ISIL will start within days."
Meanwhile, U.S. allies in the coalition are waiting for an overall direction on what the United States plans to do during the assault on the city to seize it from the ISIL. Other forces have also expressed interest in joining the battle. Russian defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov have said that "all forces fighting terrorism" must unite to seize Raqqa from ISIL.
