国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Civilians suffer as U.S.-backed forces advance against IS in Syrias Raqqa_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Civilians suffer as U.S.-backed forces advance against IS in Syrias Raqqa

As for the liberated areas in Raqqa, the SDF will hand over the administration to local councils once they are cleared of explosive devices.

Meanwhile, the SDF is urging the IS fighters to surrender to the U.S.-backed forces in exchange for "a humanitarian treatment."

But these battles are a bitter-sweat experience for civilians, who want to get rid of IS, but are also paying a steep price for the current battles.

Since the beginning of the battles in Raqqa, civilians have started to flee the war zones, but IS militants have prevented scores of them from leaving, burning their cars and keeping them hostage as human shields.

Some Raqqa-based activists said IS are trying to recruit people to help defend the city from SDF attacks.

Activists also said civilian casualties are falling as a result of heavy shelling of the U.S.-led coalition on the city.

Government media outlets said the U.S. coalition struck Raqqa with white phosphorus at least twice, leaving an undisclosed number of people killed.

These battles and attacks have also reverberated on the health situation, as the city is suffering a lack of medical supplies.

As for the Syrian government forces, they have captured several areas from IS in the western countryside of Raqqa.

A source told Xinhua that there is no direct coordination between the SDF and the Syrian army, adding that there seems to be a plan between the U.S. and Russia regarding the roles of each force in the battle for Raqqa.