US-Backed Kurdish Forces Claim Capture of Raqqa Provincial Villages Along Euphrates River

American-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured a number of villages from the Islamic State along the provincial borders of Deir Ezzor and Raqqa in recent days, successfully reaching the northern banks of the Euphrates River by March 7.

Opposition media reports corroborated statements made by SDF officials regarding the March 6 capture of a number of villages around Abu Khasab. The capture of the area includes control over a local highway which connects the cities of Raqqa and Deir Ezzor, two Islamic State strongholds, along the northern banks of the Euphrates River.

The area’s capture constitutes what the SDF describe as the third phase of the its offensive to capture Raqqa from the Islamic State. Credit: Syrian Democratic Forces via Storyful