US Special Forces Active 'Inside Raqqa'

A spokesperson for the US Army states that special forces are engaged in Syria, 'inside the city of Raqqa', providing 'advice and assistance' to coalition-backed militants. Additionally, reports indicate that two Americans were killed last week while fighting alongside the YPG. According to AFP on July 11, Colonel Ryan Dillon mentioned that US military forces, many of whom are members of special operations, are not directly involved in battles; however, they are much closer to the front lines compared to US advisors during the Mosul operation in Iraq. They are responsible for determining airstrike locations, monitoring these strikes, and collaborating with coalition-backed militants. Colonel Dillon stated that the number of American soldiers is 'not in the hundreds' and they are closely cooperating with the 'Syrian Democratic Forces' (SDF). The SDF, primarily composed of YPG Kurdish militants, is the ground force supported by the coalition in the battle to liberate Raqqa from ISIS control. Recently, the SDF managed to create a breach in the barrier wall of Raqqa. At that time, the US Central Command in the Middle East stated that this breach would help the coalition and its supported forces 'bypass ISIS-laid mines and enter the old city of Raqqa from a desired direction'. Colonel Dillon noted that in the past week or two, ISIS has increasingly turned to using civilian drones filled with explosives, a tactic the group also employed during its defense in Mosul. AFP reports that the US military refrains from disclosing the exact number of its forces in Syria, but it is estimated that 500 special operations forces are engaged in training and assisting the SDF. Concurrently, US media and social media from the YPG reported the deaths of two American citizens among the Kurdish militants. One of the deceased, Nicholas Allen Warden, 29, was previously part of the French Foreign Legion and fought against Boko Haram in Chad, according to his father as reported by the Washington Post. The second American citizen, Robert Gratt, 28, was a volunteer doctor and a former member of the movement known as 'Occupy Wall Street'. Warden and Gratt lost their lives last week during YPG battles against ISIS in Raqqa. Reports also indicate that Luke Rutter, a British citizen, was killed in recent battles. Raqqa was the main base of the so-called Islamic State, similar to Mosul in Iraq, which was captured by extremist militants during the group's advances in 2013-2014. The fall of Raqqa dates back to the winter of 2013 when Islamist groups like the al-Nusra Front and branches of the 'Free Army' seized the city. In the summer of that year, ISIS began extensive attacks on the 'Free Army'. By early 2014, Raqqa was under the complete control of the 'Islamic State'.