Militias, backed by the US-led coalition, are reportedly clashing with the Islamic State east of the city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of the extreme Muslim group in the war-torn-country. The Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, an alliance of several militias including the Kurdish YPG, is the main partner of Washington in the war against the Islamic State in Syria, which since November of last year has been working with the US-led coalition to encircle the city of Raqqa.
Earlier this week, the SDF cut the road between Raqqa and the Islamic State stronghold of Deir al-Zor province – the last main road out of the city, which is bordered to the south by the Euphrates River. A Kurdish military source revealed that the extra US forces were deployed as part of a joint plan between the SDF and the US-led coalition to capture Raqqa, and further American reinforcements were expected to arrive in the coming days