- Title: Syrian Democratic Forces push towards Raqqa’s city centre
- Date: 19th June 2017
- Summary: RAQQA, SYRIA (JUNE 19, 2017) (VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CLOUD OF SMOKE RISING VARIOUS OF TREES AND BUILDINGS VARIOUS OF CLOUD OF SMOKE RISING FROM FAR VARIOUS OF A MAN DRIVING A VEHICLE VARIOUS OF HOUSES AND DEBRIS AS FROM THE WINDOW OF THE CAR (SOUNDBITE) (KURDISH) AKEED KOBANI, FIGHTER, SAYING (TRANSLATED FROM ARABIC): "We take control of this neighbourhood towards the big mosque. We are advancing quickly in this part and now we are approaching to the city centre, but Daesh (Islamic State) is using mines very much that a little bit hinders our movement," VARIOUS OF FEMALE FIGHTERS WALKING ARMOURED VEHICLE BEING DRIVEN THREE ARMOURED VEHICLES BEING PARKED TWO FIGHTERS GOING IN AND OUT OF AN ARMOURED VEHICLE TWO FIGHTERS STANDING NEXT TO AN ARMOURED VEHICLE (SOUNDBITE) (ARABIC) LEADER OF A GROUP OF ARABIC FIGHTERS IN THE SYRIAN DEMOCRATIC FORCES, ABU SALEH HINDAWI, SAYING: "After being away for six years from the governorate now, we are liberating it and help the families get rid of this unfairness and darkness. It is a feeling that cannot be described and we hope that the residents of Raqqa governorate either young boys or girls who are inside the city to quickly join Syrian Democratic Forces to liberate this governorate from this unfairness." VARIOUS OF FEMALE FIGHTERS STANDING ON AN ARMOURED VEHICLE ONE FIGHTER COMMUNICATING WITH HER COLLEAGUE IPAD AND WALKIE TALKIE ON TABLE FEMALE FIGHTER LOOKING AT SCREEN OF IPA DRONE PARKED ON GROUND DRONE FLYING THROUGH AIR THREE FIGHTERS STANDING TWO FIGHTERS TALKING TO EACH OTHER ONE MAN WALKING ACROSS ROAD FIGHTERS GATHERING THREE FIGHTERS SITTING ON THE BACK OF AN ARMOURED VEHICLE FIGHTERS WALKING ALONG PATH THREE MEN TALKING VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS GATHERING NEXT TO VEHICLES VEHICLES TRANSPORTING FIGHTERS
- Embargoed: 3rd July 2017 19:30
- Keywords: Raqqa Syria Islamic State army soldiers
- Location: RAQQA, SYRIA
- City: RAQQA, SYRIA
- Country: Syria
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0016LY4C3R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have advanced towards Raqqa's centre pushing their offensive against Islamic State (IS).
Video obtained by Reuters shot on Monday (June 19) showed a number of fighters gathered next to armoured vehicles.
One fighter said they were advancing towards the city centre, but landmines planted by Islamic State hindered their progress.
The U.S.-backed SDF are made up of predominantly Kurdish fighters and have seized territory to the north, east and west of Raqqa, a city of about 200,000 that has served as Islamic State's base of operations since January 2014.
Islamic State fighters are close to defeat in the twin capitals of the group's territory, Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria, after nearly three years of ruling over millions of people in a wide swathe of territory in both countries. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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