- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

State of 'Emergency': US Officials Say Daesh Readying for Assault in Raqqa

© AP Photo / Raqqa Media OfficeThis undated file photo posted on Monday, Nov. 4, 2014 by the Raqqa Media Office of the Islamic State group, a militant extremist group, shows fighting in Kobani, Syria
This undated file photo posted on Monday, Nov. 4, 2014 by the Raqqa Media Office of the Islamic State group, a militant extremist group, shows fighting in Kobani, Syria - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Daesh extremists are rushing to fortify positions in their de-facto capital city of Raqqa in Syria, likely bracing for an external attack, US military officials revealed, citing social media.

"We have seen this declaration of emergency in Raqqa, whatever that means," US Colonel Steve Warren of US-led anti-Daesh coalition told reporters on Friday.

Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - Sputnik International
Daesh 'Underground City': Liberated Syrian Town Reveals Militant Secrets
Warren said that various reports read that the violent extremist group is in turmoil, feeling “threatened, as they should." He detailed that Daesh is relocating its troops around Raqqa and constructing shields to protect positions from both air and ground attacks in different parts of the city.

Earlier this week, spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance Tajir Kobani told Sputnik that they are readying for a three-pronged attack on Raqqa that would eventually free the city from extremists. The offensives are expected be conducted from the northeast and northwest of the war-torn country, he added.

"Raqqa's liberation," Kobani underscored, "will be a serious blow to Daesh positions in Syria. We intend to liberate the people of Raqqa from the jihadists."

Warren said Daesh is aware of maneuvers planned by the SDF along with the Syrian Arab Coalition “both to their east and to their west," that make the alliance “increasingly able to generate their own combat power in those areas."

Youth walk under an Islamic State flag in Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, near the port-city of Sidon, southern Lebanon January 19, 2016 - Sputnik International
Dirty Games: Secret Docs Reveal Turkey Turns Blind Eye to Daesh Activities
By repositioning their personnel and military apparatus, Daesh is trying to respond to those activities, he asserted.

“I guess what they think may be coming next," Warren said. "And we've seen reports of them repositioning personnel… either within the city or even out of the city."

Warren added that the movement of extremists throughout Raqqa plays into the hands of the anti-Daesh coalition, as it provides surveillance aircraft with the opportunity to detect extremist positions.

The US military hasn’t confirmed whether Daesh head Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi is in the city. His death wouldn’t mean an immediate defeat for the group, as there are said to be other leaders that could replace him, US defense officials said.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала