The 'Final' Battle of US-Supported Forces to Retake Raqqa is Underway

US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces announced on Saturday, October 14, that the 'final' battle to reclaim Raqqa, the self-proclaimed capital of ISIS, is underway. According to the Associated Press, Mustafa Bali, spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces, which is predominantly made up of the People's Protection Units, stated that this battle could last for hours or even days. Losing Raqqa, the main symbol of the ISIS caliphate, represents another shift in the destruction of this group and its reign of terror over the region. Over the past year, ISIS has lost many of its strategic positions in Iraq and Syria. Bali mentioned that ISIS fighters are fighting around Raqqa with desperation. He stated, 'They still have the capability to fight, but they can no longer determine the outcome of the battle. Our forces are preparing for the final phase of the war against ISIS presence in Raqqa. We still do not know how many hours, days, or weeks this battle will last.' Nuri Mahmoud, spokesman for the People's Protection Units, also told Reuters by phone: 'The clashes in Raqqa are ongoing. ISIS is finished. This city will be liberated today or tomorrow.' Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the US-led international coalition, said, 'We expect a difficult battle in the coming days and cannot specify a timeline for the defeat of the Islamic State group.' He added that about 85% of Raqqa had been liberated from ISIS by October 13. The Associated Press reported that in recent days, mediation by some tribal leaders and local councils led to the release of several residents of Raqqa. Omar Aloush, an official from the Raqqa Civil Council, told the news agency that about one hundred ISIS fighters have been captured by US-backed forces. US commanders have stated that the only way forward for ISIS is surrender, not retreat or negotiation. Recorded images show that before the potential final assault, hundreds of people from the areas around Raqqa controlled by ISIS are fleeing towards the Syrian Democratic Forces. US officials announced earlier last week that it is estimated that more than four thousand people may be trapped in Raqqa. The Islamic State militants captured Raqqa in 2014, which was the first city fully under the control of this extremist group. Since then, the city has been seen as a symbol of ISIS's governance style in the region, where people were executed in public for the slightest offenses; videos of these executions received widespread global attention. Additionally, this city, which was a destination for many foreign fighters joining ISIS, was where ISIS operations in European cities were planned. The battle to retake Raqqa began last June and has been accompanied by intense street fighting despite air support from the US-led coalition. The Raqqa battle has faced strong resistance from ISIS militants and the entrapment of the city's residents amid the fighting. While human rights observers in Syria have reported delays in negotiations to determine the fate of foreign fighters and their potential exit, the Syrian Democratic Forces have rejected any negotiations in this regard. On the other hand, Syrian government forces and their allies managed to retake the city of Mayadeen in Deir ez-Zor province from the Islamic State on Saturday. Mayadeen, located near the Iraqi border, was one of ISIS's major bases after their escape from Raqqa. Reuters reports that the Syrian army's campaign to retake Mayadeen has been heavily supported by Russian airstrikes.