AIN ISA, Syria — Operation Wrath of the Euphrates, launched Nov. 4 to liberate Raqqa, continues. As of Nov. 17, when this article was written, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were 28 kilometers (17 miles) from the Raqqa city center.
The Raqqa operation is advancing more quickly than anticipated. Fighters on the front line, who have coalition air support, claim the Islamic State (IS) cannot hold up against them. Al-Monitor spoke with the operation's spokesperson, Jihan Sheikh Ahmed, in the field. Ahmed said they are going to start the siege of Raqqa as planned, but the urban phase of the battle will be planned differently.
The forces fighting on the ground haven’t yet received the expected heavy weapons. Al-Monitor observed that the United States was providing support with aerial attacks and mortar fire. Ahmed said, "We haven’t received as much heavy weapons support as we expected to completely and quickly take Raqqa.
The Raqqa operation is as much a political issue as it is a military one, and how the US coalition approaches northern Syria politically will affect the outcome of the operation. The Raqqa operation has been advances on a quick pace in rural areas, but clearing the region totally from IS will depend on the military and political support of major powers. That may take time.
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