ISIS is completely trapped in Raqqa. As the circle around them tightens, the gangs use civilians as human shields to earn themselves a little time, and try to prevent the SDF fighters from reaching civilians by carrying out attacks from among them. The fighters are clearing the area off gangs, while also trying to rescue civilians trapped in the area among gangs.

Intense clashes broke out one night ago in Old Town Raqqa. As the gangs gathered in civilian-dense areas and used them as human shields, the clashes lasted from 21.00 to 08.30 in the morning. By the end of the clashes, a large group of civilians were rescued.

RAQQAN CIVILIAN: THE FIGHTERS ARE GOOD PEOPLE

Civilians told the fighters what they went through and said ISIS gangs made them go through hell for years.

A civilian named Eli said ISIS made constant propaganda that the SDF, YPG and the Kurds are infidels that need to be killed and added: “They took everything from us. We have been living on pasta and bulgur wheat for months. They told us the SDF and YPG are infidels, but we see that they are actually very good people. Thank god we are rid of them.”

A civilian named Abdulbaki said they didn’t have food or water and had been trapped inside.

YPG FIGHTER: WE WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ALL ARE RESCUED

A YPG fighter named Cudi said they had four fighters wounded until they rescued the civilians and added: “We have been fighting in Raqqa for a long time to save the people of Raqqa from ISIS. We have been in clashes since yesterday in order to save the civilians. Some of our friends were wounded during the efforts to save the people. We didn’t have any people wounded or martyred in the clashes with ISIS. We have killed many of them and we have seized large amounts of ammunition. But we did have some of our people wounded during the efforts to rescue the people. We rescued the civilians and brought them to safe areas. After we provide food and water for them, they will be transferred to a safer zone. We continue our advance. We will continue to fight until there are no civilians left under ISIS cruelty in Raqqa, in Rojava and in Syria.”

The civilians were removed from clash grounds in panzer tanks, they were given food and water and later taken to safe zones.

WATCH ON RIVER EUPHRATES

Meanwhile fighters keep watch by the River Euphrates to rescue any civilians who may be trying to cross the water to reach the SDF. YPG fighter Sümbül said: “The civilians are trying to cross the water to escape, and we wait here to pick them up. Some of the incoming civilians had their families killed by ISIS. Some children have had all of their family murdered, and some are missing and nobody knows what happened to them. Most of them try to cross the water to reach us.”