US TROOPS & KURDISH MILITIAS ADVANCE ON RAQQA (PHOTOS, MAP, INFOGRAPHICS)

The structure of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces involved in the Raqqa campaign

Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) fighters embed with US troops have been continuing the operation against ISIS terrorist group north of Raqqa. They anti-ISIS forces seized 3 villages without facing a significant resistance from ISIS.

The so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), supported by the US-led coalition’s air power and special forces units, launched a military operation to liberate the ISIS-controlled city of Raqa on November 6. The first stage of the operation is aimed to isolate the ISIS-controlled city.The Kurdish YPG participates in the operation under the SDF brand. Turkey and Turkish-backed forces are not involved in the operation.

YPG fighters and US soldiers side by side in the Raqqa offensive

Even pro-US sources recognize that the Kurdish YPG is the main striking force of the SDF. However, they aruge that a 15,000-strong Liwa Thuwar Raqqa force consisting of mainly Arabs will joint the battle when “it’s needed”. Now, Liwa Thuwar Raqqa battlations are allegedly passing a training in the US military camps at the Syrian-Turkish border. These claims cannot be verified and look as a PR move to hide the leading role of Kurdish forces in the operation.

Click to see the full-size map

More photos of US troops involved in the operation:

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