Syrian army urges displaced civilians to return to southern Raqqa

APD News

text

The general-command of the Syrian army urged Wednesday displaced civilians to return to their homes in areas in the southern countryside of Raqqa province in northern Syria.

The call comes as the Syrian army has captured the southern countryside of Raqqa, following battles with the Islamic State (IS) extremists.

In a statement, the army said civilians can return as of Aug. 10 to their homes and farms in the towns of Shnan, Sabkha, and Jabali.

Pledging facilitations, the Syrian army vowed to present all necessary help and services for the returnees.

This comes as the Syrian army has so far captured the western and southern countryside of Raqqa, as well as progressing in the southeastern and eastern rims of Raqqa, the de facto capital of IS in Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group said the government forces have reached the outskirts of the city of Ma'dan, the last IS-held city in the eastern countryside of Raqqa.

The progress will enable the Syrian army to reach the western administrative borders of the oil-rich province of Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria.

The Syrian army is also advancing in the desert in central Syria, particularly after capturing the Sukhneh city in the eastern countryside of Homs, which is also adjacent to the administrative borders of Deir al-Zour.

The wide-scale military offensive in the Syrian desert and the countryside of Raqqa is to break the IS siege and end its presence in Deir al-Zour.

Meanwhile, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are also advancing inside Raqqa, and have taken control of 55 percent of the city following a two-month battle with IS.

These battles aim to eliminate the IS in the key cities in Syria, as part of a Russian-U.S. understanding, which allows the Kurdish-led SDF to capture Raqqa city, and the Syrian army to retake Deir al-Zour.