More fronts are opening up against the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria. In Iraq, government forces conducting probes against Mosul, which has been under IS control for two years, are also working to liberate Fallujah, while in Syria a major operation is underway against the IS stronghold of Raqqa.
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) led by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and its women's brigade, the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), launched an operation north of Raqqa with US air support May 24, immediately after US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Gen. Joseph Votel's visit to Kobani, Syria and Ankara. Two Syrian towns on the border with Turkey, Jarablus and al-Rai, are IS' only gates to the outside world and figure highly in the plans, as their loss would be a serious blow to IS. The United States, however, postponed YPG plans to liberate Jarablus because of Turkey's red line against the Kurds, focusing instead on Manbij. But when negotiations with Ankara over Manbij did not proceed in the desired manner, plans shifted to rural Raqqa.
In the Raqqa plan, which Kurdish sources who spoke to Al-Monitor call "the biggest operation of the past two years," coalition planes bombed IS targets south of Ain Issa. As SDF units on the ground conduct a three-pronged advance, about 250 US troops are giving them coordination support behind the front lines.
The objective for the time being is not to enter Raqqa's town center, but to clear the way. Ain Issa is 55 kilometers (34 miles) north of Raqqa.
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