VOX: The war for the capital of the ISIS “caliphate” has begun
But ISIS will likely persist around the world even if Raqqa falls.
The fight against ISIS has entered one of its most important phases yet: the battle to retake Raqqa, the group’s de facto capital in Syria. Victory there would be a major milestone — but it wouldn't be a knockout punch.
When most people think about Syria, it’s cities like the capital, Damascus, or war-battered Aleppo. That makes sense — Aleppo, for example, was the most important city held by the rebels before it was largely flattened by Syrian troops and Russian warplanes. Around 50,000 people are thought to have been displaced by the fighting there, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (there is no conclusive number for those killed in the city to date).
But right now the most important fight is Raqqa, a once-obscure backwater that has become the epicenter of the war against ISIS.
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Battle
For The ISIS Capital of Raqqa -- News Updates July 8, 2017
Battle for Raqqa: Fighters begin offensive to push Isis out of Old City -- The Independent
ISIS pushes back against US-backed forces in Syria's Raqqa -- Military Times/AP
Anti-Daesh forces struggle to gain ground in Raqqa: monitor -- Daily Star/AFP
US-led strikes killed 224 civilians since allies entered Raqqa -- Al Arabiya/AFP
Syrian forces inching towards each other in Raqqa, US official says -- CNN
Corpses Rot on the Streets of Raqqa as Syria’s Conflict Rages On -- The Wire/Reuters
US Stryker vehicles lead Kurdish reinforcements into Raqqa -- Military Times
US-backed forces say Raqqa campaign ‘will take months’ -- Irish Times/The Guardian
Doomed but still dangerous: Frontline threats remain as Isis head for bloody end in Raqqa -- ITV
Battle for Raqqa: Fighters begin offensive to push Isis out of Old City -- The Independent
ISIS pushes back against US-backed forces in Syria's Raqqa -- Military Times/AP
Anti-Daesh forces struggle to gain ground in Raqqa: monitor -- Daily Star/AFP
US-led strikes killed 224 civilians since allies entered Raqqa -- Al Arabiya/AFP
Syrian forces inching towards each other in Raqqa, US official says -- CNN
Corpses Rot on the Streets of Raqqa as Syria’s Conflict Rages On -- The Wire/Reuters
US Stryker vehicles lead Kurdish reinforcements into Raqqa -- Military Times
US-backed forces say Raqqa campaign ‘will take months’ -- Irish Times/The Guardian
Doomed but still dangerous: Frontline threats remain as Isis head for bloody end in Raqqa -- ITV
