ISIL Using People in Syria's Raqqa as Human Shield

Rasa - The ISIL terrorist group is trying hard to gather more civilians in Raqqa city in Northeastern Syria to use them as human shields or to force them to join its forces amid rapid advances of the anti-ISIL forces across the province, local sources said.

News ID: 428174

Date: 15 March 2017 - 22:01

RNA - The sources said that following anti-ISIL forces' siege of Raqqa city from its Northern, Eastern and Western countryside, the ISIL has been involved in dispatching civilians to the Southern banks of the Euphrates River on ferries and to send them to Raqqa city to use them as human shield in clashes with SDF.

The terrorists have also blocked the civilians' exit path from Raqqa city, they added.

The ISIL has also forwarded over 230 members and commanders from Eastern Aleppo to Raqqa, the sources said, adding, "The ISIL has gone on alert in Raqqa city and is calling on people across the city to join it."

Reports said on Monday that the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continued to advance against ISIL in Northeastern Syria and managed to take control of more strategic villages on the banks of the Euphrates River.

The SDF fighters continued to attack ISIL's positions in Abu Khashab front and took control over Matab and Khas Ajil villages on the bank of Euphrates River in Eastern Raqqa.

In the meantime, the Kurdish combatants engaged in heavy fighting with ISIL in Khashab front and drove ISIL out of Ka'as al-Jabal village Southeast of Raqqa province.

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