Final Countdown: Syrian Democratic Forces Prepare to Retake Raqqa (PHOTO)

The Syrian Democratic Forces will start a large-scale operation to liberate the ‘capital’ city of Daesh terrorists, Raqqa. The Syrian Democratic Forces’ representative Tackır Kobani shared details of the forthcoming operation in an interview with Sputnik.

“The United States and the coalition member countries have been discussing the operation in Raqqa region for a long time. Last Tuesday, the leader of the Kurdish Party of Democratic Union, Salih Muslim, and the US special envoy to the coalition against Daesh, Brett McGurk, discussed the strategy to battle Daesh, in particular, for the liberation of Raqqa, Manbij and Jarabulus,” Kobani said.

Syrian city Raqqa

© Sputnik / Hikmet Durgun

The US officials stressed that the liberation of Raqqa will deal a crushing blow to Daesh. During the meeting it was decided that the assault against Raqqa must begin soon.

“The operation will be conducted simultaneously from three different directions from Tışrin, Şeregrar and Haseke. The coalition forces will help us with air support and weapons,” Kobani concluded.

Syrian city Raqqa

© Sputnik / Hikmet Durgun

Earlier in the day, a source told Sputnik that the US-led coalition's aircraft had showered the Daesh "capital" of Raqqa with leaflets urging civilians to evacuate as the forces prepare to start the offensive.

The Syrian Democratic Forces are fighters consisting of Kurdish, Arabic and Turkmen forces, who jointly combat Daesh in Syria.