ISIS declares state of emergency in capital

ISIS has declared a state of emergency in its capital of Raqqa, Syria, with media reports indicating the city is mobilizing to shield potential targets from airstrikes or ground attacks. The terrorist group appears to believe their capital will soon be under siege, according to those monitoring social media channels.

"We have seen this declaration of emergency in Raqqa, whatever that means," the spokesman for the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition, Col. Steve Warren, told reporters Friday.

Because of the sudden movement of personnel around Raqqa, overhead surveillance aircraft will likely have an improved chance of targeting fighters, who previously had been dug in throughout the city, CNN reports.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

"We know this enemy feels threatened, as they should," Warren said.