Syrian Democratic Forces

U.S.-backed fighters gained ground against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the streets of Raqqa on June 7, a day after their months-long offensive finally broke into the jihadists' Syrian bastion.

The İncirlik air base in southern Turkey is being used to support the U.S.-backed forces' recent move to clear Syria's Raqqa of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a Pentagon spokesperson said on June. 6.

Two Turkish Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants responsible for a number of deadly attacks in Turkey have been determined to currently be in Raqqa. 

Turkey has been closely monitoring the operation launched to clear Raqqa of ISIL militants and found that İlhami Balı and Mustafa Dokumacı are in the city fighting in the jihadist ranks.  

Photo: Al-Alam

The mainly-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced the start of a long-awaited siege on ISIS stronghold Raqqa, Syria one week after the US confirmed delivery of arms to it.

In this part of the world many things happen with no easy answers and no resolutions. 

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said on June 6 Ankara will retaliate immediately if the operation by U.S.-backed forces to capture Raqqa, Islamic State Iraq and the Levant's (ISIL) de facto capital in Syria, presents a threat to Turkey.

U.S.-backed forces launched a major move to take Raqqa, the headquarters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria on June 6, with Ankara warning that it will retaliate immediately if the military operation poses a threat against Turkey. 

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces said on June 6 they were launching a new phase in their assault on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group's bastion Raqqa, after advancing to the city's outskirts.
 

The United States-led international coalition's operation to recapture Raqqa from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) started on the night of June 2, Turkey's prime minister has said, informing that Washington briefed Ankara ahead of the operation.

The U.S. military offered assurances to Turkey on June 1 over supplying arms to the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), after Ankara called the move "extremely dangerous."

"We are being transparent with Turkey on the details on what we are providing," said Baghdad-based Pentagon spokesman Colonel Ryan Dillon.