RNA - ISIL is thought to have around 250 fighters left in the city - and they are reportedly holed up in a handful of buildings including the main hospital and the sports stadium. This is while thousands of civilians are still trapped and unable to escape the small area controlled by ISIL gunmen.
The loss of Raqqa might seem symbolic because it was the so-called ISIL capital - but only along with the loss of other towns and cities in Syria and Iraq, it may weaken the group's ability to carry out terror attacks.
The main and decisive battle is not in Raqqa, but is in Deir Ezzur, where the same US backed Syrian Democractic Forces are giving room and space to the ISIL under a deal that first came into practice in Raqqa to give a safe corridor to the terrorists to move deep into Central Syria, gifting the US-backed SDF easy control over lands in Northeastern Deir Ezzur near the border with Iraq.
Nonetheless, there is always a moment that separates truth and compassion from injustice and lying, and that moment is now, when things seem the darkest in Syria’s Raqqa. On the surface, the capture of Raqqa sounds good, as it could take some land back from ISIL. But scratch the surface and you'll find out the regime changers don't mean what they say, for words are slippery and thought is viscous:
- The allied forces of Iran, Syria, Russia and Hezbollah are not more focused on preserving their military gains than helping citizens trapped in Raqqa and elsewhere. The anti-partition alliance will continue to liberate cities and towns, including Raqqa – the US-led ‘final push to drive ISIL out of Raqqa’ notwithstanding. The allied forces continue to allow humanitarian aid reach civilians in the besieged areas and they have established humanitarian corridors for civilians to flee as well.
- Washington’s separatist proxies have used past humanitarian pauses to resupply ammunition and to strengthen their positions, worsening the suffering of civilians. They have lost more than half of their territory to the allied forces. They are desperate for a victory in Raqqa. But even there their victory will be short-lived.
- The US-led capture of Raqqa will amount to nothing because it doesn't mean peace and unity for Syria. Washington’s proxies will fail to produce a total, uncontested military victory against the Syrian government. That explains why Washington is deeply troubled by the allied forces’ recent military gains on the ground. It is desperate to slow down and undermine the inevitable.
- The US military presence in Syria is beyond International Law and a departure from the Security Council; it is absolutely illegal as Washington has no invitation from the Syrian government. There is no light at the end of America’s tunnel of Raqqa liberation either. The people of Syria will have to make their own. They know full well that the key policy in the capture of Raqqa is not to end their suffering. It is Washington’s last straw in trying to save proxies and maintain the continuity of the illegal war on Syria.
- The people of Syria never take part in Washington’s new lie which is Raqqa liberation; they don't settle for less than what they know they deserve which is victory, and reject bogus US-led Raqqa capture even though it might create conflict and tension; they intend to fight terror in ways that are in harmony with their own national interests, and make choices based on what they believe and not what the War Party in Washington wants to impose, which is political influence in post-ISIL Syria.
No doubt the militants in Syria are backed by the US and a host of partners. They are forever linked to the ISIL atrocities as they supplied arms to the Medieval Caliphate irrespective of the fact that it violated International Law. They even bought stolen oil from the terrorist group in exchange for weaponry.
There is no question that the US-supported war on Syria is a blatant act of illegal aggression. It is indefensible and there is an American imprint on every civilian life lost in that unfortunate country. Washington and company bear the heaviest responsibility for inflaming the conflict and compounding existing tensions and violence in the crisis-ridden state – not to mention for playing a leading role in aiding and abetting various terrorist groups.
Under these appalling circumstances, the US-backed capture of Raqqa will not stop the suffering in Syria because the regime changers will not stop supporting terror proxies and separatists with arms and tacit consent. Further still, capturing Raqqa will go nowhere since America will not end its intractable war on the Syrian government and its allies.
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