Limited Advance of Syrian Democratic Forces in Operation to Retake Raqqa

A source from the Kurdish forces and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced on Monday that the Syrian Democratic Forces, the U.S.-backed opposition group, have captured several villages on the first day of their operation to retake Raqqa from the Islamic State group. According to Reuters, the U.S.-led international coalition is providing air support for this operation. The Kurdish source emphasized that retaking the city of Raqqa 'will not be an easy battle.' The Syrian Democratic Forces, which include Kurdish People's Protection Units and Arab fighters, began their recent operation on Saturday with the ultimate goal of besieging Raqqa. This operation will increase pressure on the Islamic State group simultaneously with the ongoing battle to liberate Mosul. The operation, named 'Wrath of Euphrates,' has so far focused on the northern areas of Raqqa and south of the city of Ain Issa, located 50 kilometers from Raqqa. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Monday that the Syrian Democratic Forces have captured several positions of the Islamic State group but have not made significant advances. The Kurdish source also told Reuters that several villages in the area have been captured, and the Islamic State group has detonated five bomb-laden vehicles as part of its defensive measures. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added: 'Currently, we cannot set a precise timeline for this operation, and this battle will not be easy.' He noted that air support from the U.S.-led coalition has been 'excellent' so far. The Syrian Democratic Forces have been the main partner of the international coalition and the U.S. in ground battles against the Islamic State group, having liberated extensive areas in northern Syria from the group's control. The international coalition against the Islamic State also announced on Monday that the Syrian Democratic Forces have begun operations to besiege Raqqa under the air support of this coalition. General Stephen Townsend, the commander of this coalition, stated: 'The Raqqa siege operation, when completed, will liberate vast areas around the city and prepare the conditions for the liberation of the city itself.' He added that this operation will also cut off the Islamic State group's communication routes simultaneously with the Iraqi forces' operations in Mosul. Reuters reminds that the planning of the Raqqa operation has been complicated for various reasons, including concerns and opposition from the Turkish government. Turkey strongly opposes the expansion of the operational area and the influence of Syrian Kurdish forces. Additionally, Raqqa is predominantly Arab, and leaders of Syrian Kurdish groups have previously emphasized that the city should be liberated by Arab Syrian groups, not Kurdish forces. Jihan Sheikh Ahmed, a spokesperson for the Syrian Democratic Forces, recently stated that after the liberation of Raqqa, the city's ongoing affairs would be managed by a military council and a civilian council composed of the city's residents. This is the same model of governance in the city of Manbij in northern Syria, which was retaken from the Islamic State group by the Syrian Democratic Forces this summer. General Townsend emphasized that the international coalition will consult with its allies at all stages of the battle for the siege of Raqqa and how to manage the city after its liberation. An American official in Washington also told Reuters that 'there is no force that can liberate Raqqa in the near future.' American officials remind that the process of completely besieging Raqqa may take two months or even longer.