This map shows the military situation in the area of the ISIS-held city of Raqqah in Syria on March 21, 2017.
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), predominantly consisting of the People’s Protection Units (YPG), have recently taken control of Karamah, Tal Fatisah, Khardal, and the Balasim oil storage east of Raqqah.
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It appears that the SDF has Daesh figured out which enables them to take quite a bit of territory quickly without much fighting.
Years of experience fighting ISIS, consolidating its hold on Rojava and training with the US coalition have paid off. With Assad’s forces facing a series of setbacks via rebel assaults around Damascus and now Hama, it’s highly likely that the SDF will capture Raqqah and not the SAA. With Raqqah in its possession and a direct line of control over the northern banks of the Euphrates the SDF can begin sweeping south-easterly and liberating more villages from ISIS control. All signs point to a significant long term victory for the Kurdish people in both Syria and Iraq in terms of their desires for furthered autonomy.