Syria forces continue advance toward Raqqah

Syrian government forces are continuing their advance toward the headquarters of the ISIL Takfiri terrorist group in the northern city of Raqqah, a monitor says.

Troops on Monday reached within 24 km of Lake Assad, the key reservoir in the Euphrates Valley contained by the Tabqa Dam, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The London-based monitor's head Rami Abdel Rahman said Syrian government forces were “reinforcing their positions” south of the dam which is 40 kilometers from Raqqah.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters, were also moving toward the dam, but are further away due to their focus on the liberation of Manbij, it said.

On Saturday, the Syrian army entered Raqqah Province for the first time since 2014, when ISIL unleashed its ferocious campaign of terror in the Arab country.

The potential recaptures of the city of Raqqah in Syria, and the Iraqi city of Mosul are seen as the ultimate blows to ISIL.

In Iraq, security forces have reportedly edged as close as 30 km to Mosul, which is the capital of Nineveh Province.

On Monday, Russia pledged firm aerial support for Syrian operations against ISIL and al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front in Aleppo.

SS