On Tuesday, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance of Kurds and Arabs announced the start of an offensive to capture Raqqa from the Islamic State, which considers the Syrian city the capital of its "caliphate." Talal Sillo, spokesman for the Kurdish-led forces, told reporters that the SDF is working in coordination with U.S. air power. The SDF has been advancing on the ISIS stronghold since November, and its forces now have Raqqa surrounded on three sides. The battle for Raqqa, which ISIS has held since 2014, is expected to be long and bloody; at least 12 people were reported killed in presumed U.S.-led airstrikes on Monday night.
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