A Kurdish fighter from the People's Protection Units (YPG) looks at a smoke after an coalition airstrike in Raqqa, Syria June 16, 2017. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic/File Photo
Reuters: In Syria's Raqqa, corpses left to rot in the streets
When Abu Ahmad stepped out of his house in Raqqa after a night of heavy air strikes, he found several of his neighbors lying dead in the street.
"I went out the next morning just to inspect," he said. "I swear to God, cats were eating the corpses."
"We couldn't do anything with the dead bodies," he told Reuters in a series of voice messages from the city, the global headquarters of Islamic State. "They were just abandoned. We informed the hospital."
The U.S.-led coalition battling to defeat the ultra-hardline militants in Raqqa says it goes to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties.
Abu Ahmad said air and artillery attacks were relentless, leaving most people holed up inside, unable to bury the dead and paralyzed by fear of the warplanes and shelling by U.S.-backed forces fighting on the ground.
Read more ....
style="text-align: center;">
US-backed forces face fierce IS resistance in Raqa Old City -- AFP
U.S.-backed Syrian force battles Islamic State in Raqqa's Old City -- NYDaily News/Reuters
‘Raqqa is finished, kill your fanatical commanders, surrender’ – British fighter to ISIS (VIDEO) -- RT
Rebel forces close in on Raqqa -- Channel 4 News
British SDF member says support increased after visit of US-coalition envoy to northern Syria -- ARA News
SDF forces score 'key victory' against Islamic State in battle to recapture Syria's Raqqa -- The New Arab
Civilians flee Raqqa as coalition forces close in -- NRT
Civilian Casualties Rising as Those Trapped in Raqqa Face Impossible Choices -- VOA
Former Banker Turned Fighter Calls for Political Support After Raqqa Liberation -- Sputnik
In Syria’s Raqqa, Old City wall a testament to glorious days -- Washington Post/AP
Battle For The Syrian City Of Raqqa -- News Updates July 5, 2017
US-backed forces face fierce IS resistance in Raqa Old City -- AFP
U.S.-backed Syrian force battles Islamic State in Raqqa's Old City -- NYDaily News/Reuters
‘Raqqa is finished, kill your fanatical commanders, surrender’ – British fighter to ISIS (VIDEO) -- RT
Rebel forces close in on Raqqa -- Channel 4 News
British SDF member says support increased after visit of US-coalition envoy to northern Syria -- ARA News
SDF forces score 'key victory' against Islamic State in battle to recapture Syria's Raqqa -- The New Arab
Civilians flee Raqqa as coalition forces close in -- NRT
Civilian Casualties Rising as Those Trapped in Raqqa Face Impossible Choices -- VOA
Former Banker Turned Fighter Calls for Political Support After Raqqa Liberation -- Sputnik
In Syria’s Raqqa, Old City wall a testament to glorious days -- Washington Post/AP
