Ain Issa

Syria Kurds say Turkish operation 'clear' support for IS

Ain Issa - Muslimchronicle

The Kurdish force in northern Syria on Monday said Turkey's operation against it in Afrin amounted to supporting the Islamic State jihadist group and urged its Western allies to act. "This barbaric attack... is clear support to the Daesh terrorist organisation," the Syrian Democratic Forces, who played a key part in retaking some of IS's main bastions last year, saidRead more

'Final phase' of battle for Raqa

Ain Issa - Muslimchronicle

US-backed forces announced Sunday the "final phase" of the battle to retake Syria's Raqa, after the city was evacuated except for foreign Islamic State group fighters and their families. More than 3,000 civilians fled Raqa on Saturday night under an evacuation deal that left just a few hundred foreign IS fighters and some of their relatives in the handful ofRead more

US-backed force announces 'final phase' of Raqa battle

Ain Issa - Muslimchronicle

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces on Sunday announced the "final phase" of the battle to capture Raqa, once the Syrian stronghold of the Islamic State group. "We are now in the final phase of the battle for Raqa," spokeswoman Jihan Sheikh Ahmed told AFP, after the SDF announced its fighters had begun the operation to capture the last 10 percentRead more

Some IS foreign fighters have left Raqa under deal

Ain Issa - Muslimchronicle

Some foreign Islamic State group fighters have left the one-time jihadist bastion of Raqa in Syria under a deal as the city's capture nears, a local official said Sunday. "A portion of the foreigners have left," said Omar Alloush, a senior member of the Raqa Civil Council, when asked about a deal announced Saturday for IS jihadists to evacuate Raqa.Read more

US-led coalition says more to do in Syria after IS loses Raqa

Ain Issa - Muslimchronicle

The US-led coalition will have "a great deal more" to do in Syria even after defeating the Islamic State in its northern Raqa bastion, a deputy commander of the coalition said Sunday. "Daesh is not defeated with the liberation of Raqa. The defeat of Daesh was not completed with the liberation of Mosul" in Iraq, British Major General Rupert JonesRead more

Syrian displaced by IS fight paints his heartache

Ain Issa - Muslimchronicle

Under the Islamic State group's rule, Syrian farmer Faysal was forced to hide his sketches and paintings, but displaced by fighting he has finally been able to resume his beloved hobby. He sought refuge with his family at the Ain Issa camp in northern Syria three months ago, fleeing the battle for jihadist stronghold Raqa, some 50 kilometres (30 miles)Read more

Coalition strike 'kills 20 civilians' near Daesh-held Raqa

Ain Issa - Arab Today

US-backed forces pressed offensives on the Islamic State group's strongholds in Syria and Iraq, as an air strike by the American-led coalition reportedly killed 20 civilians near the Syrian city of Raqa. Supported by coalition air raids, Iraqi forces have pushed into IS's Mosul stronghold and a Kurdish-Arab militia alliance has been advancing on the jihadists' de facto Syrian capitalRead more