IS stronghold in Syria pounded by Western-backed forces as showdown looms

MORE AIRSTRIKES and artillery shelling have hit the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State group, as fighters backed by Western powers pushed closer to the extremists’ stronghold.

The developments come ahead of what is expected to be a major battle for Raqqa in the coming weeks. Airstrikes have intensified over the past days as fighters have pushed on toward the city, getting closer to it from all sides.

The Kurdish-led Syria Democratic Forces captured dozens of towns and villages under the cover of coalition airstrikes since November, when the group began an operation entitled Euphrates Wrath, aiming to eventually surround and capture Raqqa.

SDF fighters have surrounded Raqqa from the north, west and east.

The extremists still have an exit from the south, even though the air strikes destroyed two bridges on the Euphrates River south of Raqqa.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the city had been pounded by warplanes and artillery since early morning yesterday.

The activist group had no immediate word on casualties from the new airstrikes, adding that about 38 people have been killed in Raqqa and its suburbs over the past three days.

The coalition has dropped leaflets in Arabic on Raqqa, urging residents to leave the city. Some leaflets gave instructions of how to leave Raqqa, calling on people to keep their plans secret from IS and to leave without any weapons and waving a white banner.

“This is your last chance. Failing to leave could lead to death. Raqqa will fall. Don’t be there when it happens,” read one of the leaflets.

In the capital, Damascus, preparations were under way for the last group of opposition fighters and their families to start leaving the northeastern neighbourhood of Barzeh. An opposition activist based near Damascus, said the fighters and their families will head to the town of Jarablous.