U.S. fighters stand near military vehicles, north of Raqqa city, Syria November 6, 2016. REUTERS/Rodi Said
Reuters: U.S.-backed Syrian alliance declares attack on Islamic State in Raqqa
A U.S.-backed alliance of Syrian armed groups said on Sunday it had launched an operation to retake the northern city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of Islamic State in Syria.
The new offensive ratchets up pressure on the militant group at a critical moment, with its fighters already battling an assault by Iraqi security forces on their remaining Iraqi stronghold in the northern city of Mosul.
A statement issued by the U.S.-backed Syria Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab armed groups, said the campaign, called Euphrates Anger, had begun on Saturday evening. An SDF spokesman had earlier been quoted on Sunday saying it would start within hours.
"The general command of the Syria Democratic Forces announces the blessed start of its major military campaign to liberate the city of Raqqa," Jehan Sheikh Amad, an SDF spokeswoman, told a news conference in the Syrian town of Ain Issa, 50 km (30 miles) north of Raqqa.
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News On U.S. Backed Syrian Rebels Announcing An Offensive To Retake The Islamic State Capital At Raqqa
Syrian Kurds Announce Campaign to Retake Raqqa From IS -- AP
Syria conflict: Rebel force targets IS 'capital' Raqqa -- BBC
Kurdish-led force announces start of operation to reclaim Raqqa from ISIS -- Washington Post
Syrian rebels announce offensive to retake Raqqa -- Al Jazeera
U.S.-Backed Forces in Syria Launch Offensive to Seize ISIS Stronghold Raqqa -- WSJ
Syrian rebels announce push to drive Islamic State from Raqqa -- USA Today
Operation 'Euphrates Anger' Begins to Liberate Raqqa fom ISIS, Supported by U.S. -- NBC
US-backed, Kurdish-led rebels announce campaign against ISIS 'capital' of Raqqa -- FOX News
Raqqa offensive begins: US-backed rebel forces launch bid to capture Isis's Syrian stronghold -- The Independent
U.S.-backed forces move closer to taking Raqqa from Islamic State -- UPI
Syrian Kurds start campaign to recapture city of Raqqa from 'Islamic State' -- DW
Syria: US-backed forces announce bid to seize ISIS 'capital' Raqqa -- CNN
'Massive' Campaign Launched To Retake Raqqa, ISIS' So-Called Capital -- NPR
US-backed Syrian militia move to retake ISIS ‘capital’ Raqqa with American air cover -- RT
Syrian Kurds Announce Campaign to Retake Raqqa From IS -- AP
Syria conflict: Rebel force targets IS 'capital' Raqqa -- BBC
Kurdish-led force announces start of operation to reclaim Raqqa from ISIS -- Washington Post
Syrian rebels announce offensive to retake Raqqa -- Al Jazeera
U.S.-Backed Forces in Syria Launch Offensive to Seize ISIS Stronghold Raqqa -- WSJ
Syrian rebels announce push to drive Islamic State from Raqqa -- USA Today
Operation 'Euphrates Anger' Begins to Liberate Raqqa fom ISIS, Supported by U.S. -- NBC
US-backed, Kurdish-led rebels announce campaign against ISIS 'capital' of Raqqa -- FOX News
Raqqa offensive begins: US-backed rebel forces launch bid to capture Isis's Syrian stronghold -- The Independent
U.S.-backed forces move closer to taking Raqqa from Islamic State -- UPI
Syrian Kurds start campaign to recapture city of Raqqa from 'Islamic State' -- DW
Syria: US-backed forces announce bid to seize ISIS 'capital' Raqqa -- CNN
'Massive' Campaign Launched To Retake Raqqa, ISIS' So-Called Capital -- NPR
US-backed Syrian militia move to retake ISIS ‘capital’ Raqqa with American air cover -- RT
