SYRIAN WAR

Started with protests in Daraa in 2011, the Syrian conflict rapidly turned into a war with a number of foreign powers supporting various militant groups (including al-Qaeda-linked) against the government of Bashar al-Assad. Since then, the country has been a point of instability in the Middle East. Russia began a military intervention in Syria in 2015 after an official request by the Syrian government for military help against militant groups.This allowed the Syrian government to survive and to regain initiative in a battle against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda), ISIS and other militant groups.

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GRAPHICS #FROMTHEFRONTEditor's choice 02.08.2017 - 515 views

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SDF Isolating ISIS-held Old Raqqah From Southern Flank (Map Update)

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been developing momentum in Hisham Abdulmalik distrcit in the city of Raqqah. The SDF has so far seized a notable part of the area and is not attempting to consolidate the recent gains.

Constant US-led coalition airstrikes on all positions that may be ISIS strongpoints contribute significantly to the SDF success.

If the SDF captures Hisham Abdulmalik, the ISIS-held part of the Old Raqqah area will be isolated from the southern flank. This will allow the SDF to relaunch attempts to capture the area.