[Texas Fossil]

This is the official announcement of the beginning of the battle to take the city of Raqqa, Syria from ISIS Terrorists.

This is a very large undertaking. The town before ISIS captured it was 240,000 people.

ISIS is thought to have a few thousand fighters still in Raqqa. There is no accurate way to know how many.

Their numbers and effectiveness has been reduced by continuing surveillance and targeting of command and control centers. Precision strikes have degraded their abilities.

note: there are videos at the source link.

[Texas Fossil]

Syria Ping

Official announcement of battle to take Raqqa

[Freemeorkillme]

Missed it by a couple of minutes. Different source though.

Thanks for the post.

[Rebelbase]

Before it was obliterated on the way to the city a couple of weeks ago this ISIS convoy was Raqqa Rollin'.

[huldah1776]

Will the turks do anything stupid?...

Turkey issues warning to coalition

Turkey’s Prime Minister said his country will respond if the offensive to recapture Raqqa poses a security threat to Turkey.

In an address to legislators from his ruling party, Binali Yildirim again criticized the United States for launching the Raqqa offensive with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

NATO member Turkey considers the Kurdish fighters within the SDF terrorists because of their links to outlawed Kurdish rebels in Turkey and had opposed their involvement in the operation.

“To support terror organisations does not suit (our) alliance,” Prime Minister Yildirim said.
“We will immediately give the necessary response if we come across a situation in Raqqa or any other point in the region that threatens our security.”

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-06/battle-for-raqqa-begins/8595086

[DesertRhino]

Meet the new boss....

[Bigg Red]

I am thinking they shold shut their yaps until the battle is won.

[veracious]

Seems a helicopter drop to the south east of Raqqa, was disrupted by IS. Hope this was another grand envelope operation and that they try again with enough horsepower to hold the position. Cut them off and slaughter them all, please.

[BeauBo]

"We announce the good news of the start of the Great Battle"

[caww]

YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces have gone into action with the launch of the operation to liberate Raqqa earlier today and entered the Almashalab neighborhood of the city at 16:00 local time Tuesday afternoon.

Fierce clashes are taking place between ISIS gangs and SDF fighters advancing through the eastern front.

[caww]

YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces have gone into action with the launch of the operation to liberate Raqqa earlier today and entered the Almashalab neighborhood of the city at 16:00 local time Tuesday afternoon.

Fierce clashes are taking place between ISIS gangs and SDF fighters advancing through the eastern front.

[caww]

Blackout in Raqqa..Islamic State has shut down internet & cut off electricity to prevent Raqqa residents from contacting outside city...