Hundreds of SDF Militants Enter Raqqa Following Unprecedented Kurdish-Arab Tensions

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) deployed some 5,000 more troops in Raqqa city on Monday after unprecedented tensions between the Kurdish-majority group and rival Arab militants that are all supported by Washington.

News ID: 70921

Date: 25 June 2018 - 15:33

TEHRAN (Defapress)-Almost 5,000 SDF gunmen arrived in Raqqa city and deployed across the city neighborhoods, streets, squares and roads, declaring a two-day curfew in the city and its outskirts.

Yet, the Kurdish-majority SDF sought to justify its increased deployment by mentioning an unspecified threat of ISIL infiltration.

The newly-arrived SDF militias have been kept on alert, local sources said.

The sources said that deployment of SDF militias in the city came after intensifying clashes between the SDF and Liwa Thowar al-Raqqa that led to the capture of over 90 members of the latter by the SDF.

The SDF further embarked on arresting Commander of Liwa al-Thowar Abu Issa in the town of Ein Issa in Northern Raqqa after laying siege on the bases of the rival group.

In addition to infighting between US-backed militants, Raqqa has been witnessing several cases of popular uprising so far.

On Sunday, the SDF militias embarked on laying siege on most bases of Liwa al-Thowar in Raqqa city.

After the SDF started capturing a number of Liwa al-Thowar militants, the Arab militant group called on Raqqa residents to assist them to confront the SDF.

In the meantime, Liwa al-Thowar in a later statement took the US-led coalition responsible, and called for immediate reaction by the US forces.

The statement further said that the US plan for arming the Kurdish units was not aimed at driving ISIL from Raqqa but to replace the ISIL with the Kurds, stressing that there is no difference between ISIL and Kurdish militias.

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