ISIS fighters set to quit Raqqa. Face imminent defeat by U.S.-backed Syrian militias

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Displaced Syrians on the outskirts of Raqqa this week after fleeing the city of Deir ez-Zor. Photograph: Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images
Displaced Syrians on the outskirts of Raqqa this week after fleeing the city of Deir ez-Zor. Photograph: Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images

Syrian Islamic State fighters are set to abandon Raqqa in a withdrawal agreed with U.S.-backed Syrian militias that have them surrounded, a militia spokesman said on Saturday, as the jihadists’ defeat in their former Syrian capital edged closer.

Officials gave conflicting accounts on whether foreign fighters would also be leaving the city, where the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been battling to defeat Islamic State since June.

SDF spokesman Talal Silo said the foreign fighters would be left behind “to surrender or die”, without saying when the evacuation of Syrian fighters would take place.

But Omar Alloush, a member of Raqqa’s Civil Council, said the evacuation would include foreign fighters. He said it would take place overnight into Sunday. The jihadists would be taking some 400 civilians with them as human shields, he said.

The final defeat of IS at Raqqa would be a milestone in efforts to roll back the theocratic “caliphate” the group declared in 2014 in Syria and Iraq, where earlier this year it was driven from the city of Mosul.

IS used Raqqa as a base to plan attacks against the West.

The Kurdish YPG militia, which dominates the SDF, told Reuters earlier on Saturday that Islamic State was on the verge of defeat in Raqqa, and the city may finally be cleared of the jihadists on Saturday or Sunday.

The U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State said a convoy was due to leave Raqqa on Saturday, in an arrangement agreed by local parties. It described the arrangement as “a civilian evacuation” and said it would not condone any arrangement that allowed “terrorists to escape Raqqa without facing justice”.

Coalition spokesman Col. Ryan Dillon said the coalition’s stance was that IS fighters must surrender unconditionally, but added that he could not comment on who would be in the convoy. He said difficult fighting was expected in the days ahead.

The coalition statement said the arrangement brokered by the Raqqa Civil Council and local Arab tribal elders on Oct. 12 was “designed to minimize civilian casualties and purportedly excludes foreign Daesh terrorists”.

The coalition believed the arrangement would “save innocent lives and allow Syrian Democratic Forces and the coalition to focus on defeating Daesh terrorists in Raqqa with less risk of civilian casualties”, it said.

Tribal leaders from Raqqa said the SDF had agreed to allow safe passage out of the city for Syrian Islamic State fighters still inside, and they were organizing a “mechanism” for them to leave.

Its statement made no mention of the fate of Islamic State’s foreign jihadists, but said the remaining fighters in the city were only “a small number besieged in one or more positions in the city, who have no choice but surrender or death”.

Alloush earlier told Reuters that the IS fighters would go to remaining territory held by the group in Syria.

BUSES ARRIVE

Negotiated withdrawals of combatants facing defeat have become a common feature of the six-year-long Syrian war.

An activist group that reports on Raqqa, Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently, said on its Facebook page that dozens of buses had entered Raqqa city overnight Friday from the countryside to the north.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based organization that reports on the war, said Syrian Islamic State fighters and their families had already left the city, and buses had arrived to evacuate remaining foreign fighters and their families.

The Syrian army, which is supported by Iran-backed militias and the Russian air force, declared another significant victory over Islamic State on Saturday, saying it had captured the town of al-Mayadin in Deir al-Zor province.

The eastern province is Islamic State’s last major foothold in Syria, and it is under attack there from the SDF on one side and Syrian government forces supported by Iran-backed militias and Russian air strikes on the other.

Islamic State fighters had previously agreed to an evacuation last August, from an area on the Syrian-Lebanese border.

But as their convoy moved toward Islamic State-held territory in eastern Syria, coalition planes blocked its route by cratering roads, destroying bridges and attacking nearby Islamic State vehicles.

REUTERS

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30 responses to “ISIS fighters set to quit Raqqa. Face imminent defeat by U.S.-backed Syrian militias”

  1. Hind Abyad Avatar
    Hind Abyad

    ISIS fighters in Imminent defeat, how sweet calling them ‘militias’;-)

    “Times of Israel reports ISIS chiefs now in Golan Heights enclave on border with Israel

    The Israeli government has vowed to prevent IS from setting up operations close
    to the Israeli border. Israel “won’t allow Islamic State figures or other enemy actors, under the cover of the war in Syria, to set up next to our borders,”..

    Liar in chief Benjamin Netanyahu said…
    http://theduran.com/times-of-israel-reports-isis-chiefs-now-in-golan-heights-enclave-on-the-border-with-israel/

    1. Here is a sad reality for you Hind, it is a shocker, but……all leaders lie.
      Why are you such a drama queen?

      1. Rainbow Sponge Avatar
        Rainbow Sponge

        She’s extremely butthurt about something. Pretty sure her palestinian aunts have something to do with it.

  2. The Anglo-American-Israel-Gulf’s ISIS is being obliterated by Russia and Syria but it’s the “US-backed Syrian militias” (whoever they are) who are defeating ISIS.

    1. MekensehParty Avatar
      MekensehParty

      dying of jealousy huh? your fartsistance fantasy world crumbling day by day?
      go check on boba and 3ammo in the rat hole

      1. Yes, that’s exactly it: jealousy. You’re particularly intuitive today.

        Unlike you, I don’t climax at the idea of war and destruction. But that’s besides the missed point: Daesh is your beloved US-IsraHell’s creation.

        1. MekensehParty Avatar
          MekensehParty

          yes of course you’re jealous and your beliefs in the fartsistance is crumbling faster than you can handle, the US and its allies cleared the whole ME from ISIS killing tens of thousands of them while your buddies were touring them around in ACed buses. Can you deny this ya hmar?
          Keep repeating (like the brain dead moron that you are) that Isis is the US and Israel’s creation, again who gives a crap what a dumbass brainwashed idiot like you thinks when the reality on the ground is for all to see clearly.
          So go hide behind conspiracy theories that you invent out of thin air. Who believes you?

          1. Yes haboob. I am dying of jealousy.

            The US and its allies cleared the region of the very proxies they hired, paid, armed, trained and supports in the first place. Your logic is strong as ever.

            I suppose you’re also going to tell me that the UK, US, IsraHell, Gulf, Qatar and Turkey did not meet in Jordan in 2014 to plan Deash’s invasion of Mosul.

            Or that ISIS did not apologize to IsraHell for a clash in the Golan Heights.

            Or that diplomatic flights were not used to transfer weapons from Azerbaijan to Daesh in the Middle East.

            Or that etc for a long list of welll establish and proven facts.

            The reality on the ground is that your beloved Anglo-American-Israeli scum of the Earth and their Daesh proxies did not have it their way.

          2. MekensehParty Avatar
            MekensehParty

            your idiocy has no boundaries
            keep believing the fantasies you tell yourself, the fall will only be harder

          3. They are not my fantasies but very much realities.

            Before lying that I don’t answer, why don’t you answer the many facts I brought up?

            In regards to the “guided tour in ACed bus”, you know very well that a deal was struck for the return of death bodies. Controversial, yes, but a deal nonetheless.

            Now, why don’t you return the favor and answer the facts I presented? Or are you going to be your true coward self again and resort at the “conspiracy theory” silliness and lamentable insists?

          4. MekensehParty Avatar
            MekensehParty

            Show proof of all the bullshit that you said and I will reply, until then they ARE conspiracy theories promoted by the morons you believe, making you a double moron.
            I showed you proof that the whole world has seen, pictures and videos of dawaesh taking a tour of Syria at the expense of your masters and you call it a deal? laughable
            You’re an idiot, and I only talk to you to insult you. I gave up trying to rationalize with you when you denied all the realities that I presented to you, that the whole world sees as facts.
            You’re a disgrace of a human being and I will continue to treat you like a piece of shit that you are until you PROVE otherwise.

          5. You presented and continue to present one “reality”: the propagandist Anglo-American narrative aimed at inventing threats in order to justify military actions around the world.

            You showed no proof for anything. You’ve been squealing about the deal Hezbollah and Syria struck with ISIS (at the border with Lebanon) for the return of Iranians, Syrians and Hezbollah fighters. Cry me a river.

            You will find your request here:

            • The US and its allies created, recruited, armed, trained, paid and support Daesh:

            https://medium.com/insurge-intelligence/ex-intel-officials-pentagon-report-proves-us-complicity-in-isis-fabef96e20da

            http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-05-23/secret-pentagon-report-reveals-us-created-isis-tool-overthrow-syrias-president-assad

            https://geopolitics.co/2017/09/24/russian-satellite-photos-prove-us-isis-collusion-in-syria/

            • ISIS apologized to IsraHell:

            https://www.timesofisrael.com/ex-defense-minister-says-is-apologized-to-israel-for-november-clash/

            • The 2014 meeting in Jordan between the UK, US, IsraHell, Gulf, Qatar, Turkey, Kerkar and Barzani to plan Daesh’s invasion of Mosul was uncovered by Özgür Gündem in 2014:

            “Yer : Amman, Tarih : 1, Konu : Mosul”, Akif Serhat, Özgür Gündem, 6 July 2014.

            The news paper was shut down by Erdoğan in 2016.

            • Diplomatic flights to move weapons:

            https://trud.bg/350-diplomatic-flights-carry-weapons-for-terrorists/

            Lastly, you need to understand that I have no interest, whatsoever, to earn the eastern of a frustrated loser like you. You’re only making a bigger fool of yourself with your manic-depressive tantrums and dumb “insults”.

          6. MekensehParty Avatar
            MekensehParty

            Wla hmar, none of your shitty websites is even a news website, they’re idiots like you, who have no business in journalism who write wild fantasies. For the efffin millionth time it’s not because they’re “on the internet” that they are true. That has always been your problem ya bags of shits, you believe any crap that is set before you by anyone. medium.com? zerohedge.com? Chou hal bhim enta. Those are your sources? unknown douchebags sitting somewhere in Macedonia and writing nonsense all day for the shit eaters like you to swallow it?
            GET ME PROOFS and I’ll stop shitting on you
            I gave you proofs that your camp and Isis have been shmooozing more and more. Pictures, reliable eyewitness reports that have been confirmed by other reliable witnesses. What did you give me in return? Fake news?

          7. A most expected cowardly response from you: go after the messenger when the message cannot be tackled.

            Feel free to discredit the US DIA documents, Ya’alon’s testimony, the satellites images, the documented diplomatic flights carrying weapons to terrorists and what not but before doing that, quit throwing manic-depressive tantrums, pick your rectum of the floor and man up.

            The Anglo-Americans invent threats to wage wars. Their news outlets state they’re saving that world and you, swallow it like trickle down. Hypocrisy at its finest.

          8. Hind Abyad Avatar

            hmar shitty idiot fantasies ya bag of shits crap
            GET ME PROOFS

          9. Actually ISIS is more in-tune to extremist Islamist leaders like Khamenei.
            Khamenei was most likely jealous of the strict Islamist law being dealt by ISIS when he has lost his country to western progressive social development no matter how many people the mullahs dictators hang in the streets.
            Mullahs have shown that they have been able to make deals with AQ and other sunni extremist in the past, there is no doubt that mullahs have also cut deals with ISIS as well to leave Iran alone.
            And as much as Iran tries to paint all rebels as ISIS, this is just not so. Not all rebel groups are religious extremist such as ISIS and Hezbullah.

            Interesting read, and accurate analysis below. Case study.

            https://institute.global/insight/co-existence/what-khameneis-letter-shares-jihadi-propaganda

      2. Hind Abyad Avatar
        Hind Abyad

        “Ya’alon: I would prefer Islamic State to Iran in Syria”

        “We believe ISIS will be eventually defeated territorially after the blows it has been suffering, and in light of the attacks on its oil reserves,” he added.”

        Poor ISIS ;-(

        Better destroy Syria for Zionists Greater Israel

        Just like you Mekemouse popcornes.

        https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/eb3aeb91d018880b16d0da9fa2882158f27480d41da0a3499110175fdb58e228.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/dfa73eef6f4ffd5a66f6ce19058adde221536eed5742eae18f76d159e1219805.jpg
        http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/08/israel-iran-us-russia-syria-lebanon-hezbollah-netanyahu.html

        1. MekensehParty Avatar
          MekensehParty

          What are you rambling about exactly? I already told you to stop copy pasting and use your brain to think. You’re a 0, a stupid parrot, a stem cell injected in an idiot. If you have anything to say, use your dead brain cells to say it, stop repeating what other morons write.

          1. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            1917 Balfour Declaration Centenial. 1918 The Rabbi Rejection

            Find yourself other things of interest, you’re a big boy Mekraked.

          2. What is your point of 100 year old irrelevant documents?
            They have no bearing.

          3. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            So…Balfour is a 100 years old “irrelevant” document..finaly
            a troll worth MekenzehPartita IQ. Tell that to the Jews. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0cc71209cb4ae5775c602cabc70ade84406ca5b524eac498cbc8539947b5103c.jpg

          4. LOL.
            Israel does not need to hide behind ISIS to take on Iran.
            Bring it, and extremist Islam will get further spankings.

          5. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            Kol khara u saker’l khara be bouzak ya kherfen.

          6. Hind Abyad Avatar

            OK.

      3. Hind Abyad Avatar
        Hind Abyad

        Hey, Ya’alon:”I would prefer Islamic State to Iran in Syria”.
        As if anyone doubted whose side Israel is on in Syria ;-))

        Your lifelasting sick chronic hate vindictiveness equal brain damadged Zionists. Syrian Christians, Alawites, Druze, Kurds, moderate Sunnis to be sacrificed for the sake of Israels security,
        what about Lebanon security? ISIS and Al Qaeda taking over Syria?

  3. Hind Abyad Avatar
    Hind Abyad

    ‘Israeli authorities are saying publicly what U.S. authorities believe privately.

    The whole “fight” against ISIS is largely phony because ISIS is a project of the
    CIA plus Turkish, Israeli and other intel organizations just as Al-quaida was a
    product of a similar alliance of intel services.

    Doesn’t mean ISIS does not have its own interests that may not accord with the
    CIA but it’s closer to the West than the Syrian government.
    Washington WANTS chaos in the region and that has been a consistent policy
    for some time.’ Alan Roberts.

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