Syrian Democratic Forces breached the Old City of Raqqa after overcoming heavy push back from Islamic State militants Monday, U.S.-led coalition officials said. The U.S.-backed fighters were able to open up two small gaps in the Rafiqah Wall, which surrounds the Old City. Officials added that the U.S.-backed fighters would have been extremely vulnerable without the aid of the airstrikes. The advance toward Raqqa city began last year, as Kurdish-led forces fought to clear rural parts of the province of the presence of ISIS militants. The battle for the city began in earnest on June 6, as the fighters moved in from east, west and north of Raqqa.

Source: Fox News July 04, 2017 03:00 UTC