U. S.- backed fighters cut key Syria road

It linked Raqqa, the ultimate target of the forces, and another city held by ISIS

BEIRUT — U. S.- backed Syrian fighters on Monday cut the main road between the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, which is controlled by the Islamic State extremist group, and the eastern city of Deir el- Zour, which is partially held by the group, as they press into the militants’ territory in Syria.

But despite the fresh blockade on the road, the Islamic State still controls large swaths of ground south of Raqqa, and smaller roads and paths through open desert are still accessible to the militants for moving between the cities.

Fighters from the U. S.backed and Kurdish- led Syria Democratic Forces have been on the offensive under the cover of U. S.- led coalition airstrikes since November. Operation Euphrates Wrath aims to surround and capture Raqqa, the capital of the Islamic State’s self- declared caliphate.

The Syria Democratic Forces began the third phase of the operation last month with the aim of capturing villages and towns east of Raqqa.

The Britain- based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syria Democratic Forces fighters cut the road linking the two cities in the area of Jazra near Raqqa early Monday. The group said it is now difficult for people to leave and enter Raqqa after the capture of the new territory east of the city and after last month’s airstrikes by the coalition that destroyed two main bridges on the southern edge of Raqqa.

“Our forces have cut the main supply line between Raqqa and Deir el- Zour,” Syria Democratic Forces spokesman Talal Sillo said. He added that it is still too early to impose a siege on Raqqa because the extremists control areas west and south of the city.

Another group spokesman, Cihan Sheikh Ehmed, vowed that the campaign will continue “until Raqqa is totally isolated.”

The blockade of the main road comes amid an ongoing Syria Democratic Forces march toward Raqqa; its fighters are now stationed 5 miles north of the Euphrates River city and are supported by both coalition airstrikes and a deployment of about 500 U. S. special operations forces. The Pentagon has said its soldiers are working in a purely advisory capacity.

But Turkey, a U. S. ally through NATO, views the Kurdish militia known as the People’s Protection Units — the main component of the Syria Democratic Forces — as an extension of the Kurdish insurgency inside its own borders and has classified the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, with which the militia is affiliated, as a terror organization.

Turkey has objected strongly to the Syria Democratic Forces’ offensive and vowed to repel the Kurdish- led forces in the town of Manbij back over the banks of the Euphrates, a move that would disrupt the Raqqa campaign.

There are Turkish forces stationed in al- Bab, 25 miles southwest of Manbij. The Turkish threats prompted the Syria Democratic Forces to ask Russia and the Syrian army to establish a buffer between them and the Turkish forces.

With uncertainty building, the U. S. deployed a number of armored vehicles to its allies in Manbij, the Syrian Kurdish Rudaw news agency reported Saturday. The deployment was confirmed on Twitter by Col. John Dorrian, spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, which is the U. S. military effort against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

A Pentagon spokesman, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, on Monday reaffirmed the U. S. troops’ purpose, saying the troops are on the western outskirts of Manbij to “reassure and deter” and are making themselves visible by flying American flags.

It is neither an offensive nor defense role, he said, but a mission designed to keep a lid on tensions that risk starting new violence in northern Syria.

“It’s a visible reminder, for anybody who’s looking to start a fight, that the only fight that should be going on right now is with ISIS.”

Asked whether this is a new mission for U. S. troops in Syria, Davis said, “It is, absolutely.” He said the deployments are temporary.

Information for this article was contributed by Robert Burns of The Associated Press.