Battle For The Syrian City Of Raqqa -- News Updates July 17, 2017

The Australian/The Times: Coalition forces capture half of Old Raqqa from Islamic State

Militias backed by the US now control more than half of the old city of Raqqa but face a gruelling battle similar to that in Mosul, monitors and commanders say.

Western special forces are fighting inside the city itself, a spokesman for the coalition against Islamic State confirmed, alongside units of the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-led alliance in the east of the country.

The battle is causing a rising toll of casualties, including from allied air raids in support of ground troops, but the SDF is also managing to rescue hundreds of civilians. Apache helicopters hover permanently over the city.

Read more ....

Battle For The Syrian City Of Raqqa -- News Updates July 17, 2017

US-backed forces battle IS in heart of

Syria’s Raqqa -- Washington Post/AP
US-backed forces push into Islamic State-controlled Raqqa -- Times of Israel/AFP
Islamic State set oil fields in Raqqa ablaze -- Iraqi News
SDF retake Yarmouk neighborhood near Raqqa -- Iraqi News
SDF announces liberation of Yarmouk neighborhood in southwestern Raqqa -- NRT
Hundreds of U.S. Military vehicles race into Syria from Iraq -- Blasting News
Dozens of US Civilians Are in Syria Fighting ISIS With Local Forces -- Military.com/LATimes
US Experts, Apache Helicopters Heat up Raqqa Battle -- Asharq Al-awsat
UN says civilians fleeing Raqqa in droves but thousands still trapped -- TRT World
Traumatized civilians fleeing Syria's Raqqa in droves: U.N. official -- Reuters