RBSS
A lot of discussions have been held recently about Raqqa battle especially after SDF announcement of launching Raqqa battle right after Mosul battle.
In the last week, twenty five civilians were killed in Heishe by an international coalition airstrike along with shells coming from SDF artillery. People of Heishe had to flee their village after this massacre.
RBSS reporter in Raqqa has met Um Ahmed, a 42 years former teacher from Raqqa, and asked her about civilians’ views on the upcoming events:” My husband and his friends are following the news and listening to everybody’s analysis regarding Raqqa battle. He has been unemployed for six months now, we are tired of everything.”
ISIS has prevented civilians from fleeing its controlled areas and each and every day mosques and Hosbe patrols are calling people for Jihad.
“We do not feel that the coming days will bring any better situation, all the world is standing beside Assad regime and do not think of anything rather eliminating ISIS without thinking of whom will come after the terrorist group” Um Ahmed added.
Abu Khalid, a shopkeeper in Raqqa, indicated to RBSS reporter:” The upcoming events will determine ISIS alternative, I am not optimistic because there is no alternative for the (nothingness)”
Civilians are thinking about their city’s future, would it be like Tal Abyad and its suburbs when their people had been displaced? Would it be like the destroyed Manbij? Would it be like Jarabulus? Or would it be like the fully destroyed Kobani?
Fears are varied, SDF are entering the city or the Russian warplanes and regime army involving in the battle. What about Raqqa civilians? Would they face the same destiny of Fallujah’s people? People do not want to alternate terror with another terror.
