Syria Forces Advances toward Daesh Capital, Raqqah

Local Editor

As the Syrian Army continues to advance towards Raqqah, a new achievement was scored by reaching within 24 km of Lake Assad, the key reservoir in the Euphrates Valley contained by the Tabqa Dam.

The so-called "Syrian Observatory for Human Rights" said that the Syrian government forces were "reinforcing their positions" south of the dam which is 40 kilometers from Raqqah.

On Saturday, the Syrian army entered Raqqah Province for the first time since 2014, when Daesh 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 Daesh.

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

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

"We will be actively supporting the Syrian army from the air to prevent terrorists from seizing territory," Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

He also dismissed Washington's insistence on the suspension of the airstrikes against the terrorists so that the US-backed "moderate" militants can leave the city.

Washington "is asking us and Syrian leadership to delay airstrikes" until the militants are separated from the terrorists, Lavrov said. "We believe there has been more than enough time for that."

On Friday, Lavrov said The US had asked Russia to stop conducting airstrikes against al-Nusra Front terrorists in Syria.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team