As the operation to liberate Raqqa city center enters day 7, SDF Commander Lokman Xelil spoke to ANF on the level the operation has reached and why liberating Raqqa is important.

Raqqa has been under ISIS tyranny for a long time. Since they emerged, ISIS has invaded many regions and they have chosen Raqqa as the administration capital for all the invaded territory.

“THE ABSOLUTE WIPE OUT OF ISIS WILL BE THROUGH RAQQA”

Xelil said the following:

“Raqqa has always had a strategic location and significance. It was right in the center of Syria and served as a gateway in crossing over to the east, north and west. Like Aleppo was a historically important economic center, Raqqa was an important passageway. It acted as a center to cross over to and impose control over Iraq and the Kurdistan territory to the north. The area outside of Raqqa city center is desert land. The city being built over the Euphrates River and being surrounded by the desert strengthened Raqqa’s appeal. The city had important contributions to the development of Islam also. Tombs of important Islamic commanders and saints stand in central Raqqa. Raqqa is also known for its strong clan structures. When ISIS invaded Raqqa, some powerful clans aided ISIS, they paid homage to ISIS and joined them.”

Xelil pointed out that Raqqa is also important for the Northern Syria Federation and said:

“First, it is the ISIS gangs’ capital. And the attacks on Northern Syria and Rojava territory will be broken, and most importantly ISIS will be completely pushed out of these lands when Raqqa is liberated from ISIS gangs. Another important point is that our people in Rojava Kurdistan have economic and vital ties with Raqqa. ISIS invasion of Raqqa led to great hardship for the local people. They lost their homes, their lands and their economic activity. For all these reasons, like ISIS invaded Raqqa and achieved control, pushing ISIS out of there will mean salvation and prosperity for a wide region.”

Xelil stressed that after they invaded Raqqa, ISIS showed their true face to the people of the city and the region, and continued:

“They massacred hundreds of people over the Euphrates and left their bodies in the river. All this was done in front of the people to strike fear in them. They had created a great wave of fear with their practices even before they entered Raqqa. The people found hope again with the Wrath of Euphrates operation and they sought refuge in large numbers in areas our forces control. With the liberation operation, the people’s choice was not hard, they directly came to our areas. And that shows how tired they are of ISIS cruelty.”

“We are under a historic burden, both for Northern Syria and for peoples living under ISIS cruelty. We are Syrian forces. We are the children of this people. The freedom and defense of the people is our moral and conscientious duty. For this reason, and because of the people’s demand, we are marching for the freedom of Raqqa. The speed of our advance is due to the support of the people. Because the people called for us and accepted us, the Wrath of Euphrates operation has now reached the city center. The liberation maneuver that started last year in November has now reached the point where the city will be liberated. On the way to this point, important villages, towns and cities were liberated as well as the whole rural Raqqa area. It was with great effort and sacrifice that we reached this point.”

Xelil stated that they have the strength to withstand the hardships of war in clearing Raqqa of ISIS and continued: “The campaign to liberate Raqqa is carried out by the operation forces with great enthusiasm and excitement. There is no problem there. But there are trying attitudes towards our forces liberating Raqqa. States, institutions and political powers emerged to make this operation led by Kurdish forces more difficult. With military and political tricks, they spent great efforts so our forces wouldn’t enter Raqqa, but our determined stance, our practice, our efforts and the support of the local people voided this.”

THE LATEST

Xelil summarized the current situation in the war in the city center as follows:

“The operation to liberate the city center started seven days ago and in this time important developments and gains have been made. We entered the peripheral neighborhoods and strengthened our positions. ISIS had laid mines in most of these areas. They are in a war to exist or perish. They are trying to fight to exist, but they have the mindset to take down everything they can as they go down also. We saw in the areas our forces entered that ISIS gangs laid mines everywhere, they dug tunnels and turned many homes to ruins. They forcibly removed people from their homes and pulled them more to the center. ISIS gangs want to use the people as human shields.

Our forces carrying out the operation on the city center are as careful as they are enthusiastic. They act with the knowledge that while they are excited to enter the ISIS capital, they have to be more cautious and conscious in the rough war they will engage in. There is propaganda in the outside world that ISIS has evacuated Raqqa. This is a complete lie. Our forces fought to enter the neighborhoods and the ISIS gangs are resisting with all that they have to annihilate our forces. Our forces are now close to the ancient city walls that surround the old city. And 17th brigade headquarters and a large sugar factory have been cleared of ISIS gangs.”

“INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS MUST INTERVENE”

Another important aspect of the war in the region is migration, on which Xelil said:

“During the Raqqa operation, people from the city center flock to areas where our forces are. Settling these people, ensuring their safety and them continuing with their lives without a hitch are matters that our forces are keen on. They have been deprived of all their rights under the cruelty of ISIS, and they have suffered hunger and poverty. Knowing this, we are doing all we can to make them comfortable. But our resources are not enough. The international community and humanitarian institutions need to intervene in this situation. No support has come from these up to date. When the Mosul operation started there were great preparations, but for the people of Raqqa there is silence. I am calling on the international community to be conscious of the situation the people are in and intervene.”