RBSS On the evening of June 24th, an armed group of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) managed to sneak into the northern Raqqa neighborhood of Rumela and settle in one
Compulsory youth recruitment in Raqqa, ISIS and SDF
RBSS Every day, the Syrian Democratic Forces SDF continue to advance in Raqqa suburbs and in each new village they control, they arrest dozens of young men and force them
Thousands of civilians still trapped in Raqqa
Abdalaziz Alhamza “RBSS” Forces participating in the battles against ISIS in Raqqa, comprised mainly of the Syrian Democratic Forces and the International Coalition, seem to have ignored the fact that
Military service now compulsory in SDF areas of Raqqa
RBSS Early this month, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is mostly composed of and led by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), have arrested dozens of young men from
The Battle for Raqqa is one of destruction and displacement
RBSS As the battle against ISIS in Raqqa intensifies, the strategy being used by the International Coalition and their local allies, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), is becoming clearer. Their
ISIS strongholds are collapsing, but the group still remains
Abdalaziz Alhamza “RBSS” In 2015, the total area controlled by ISIS in both Iraq and Syria was estimated to be about 90 thousand square kilometers. Since the beginning of military
Raqqa: ISIS justifies their escapes, but prevents civilians from leaving
Abdalaziz Alhamza “RBSS” The United Nation has recently stated that approximately one hundred thousand civilians still remain in the city of Raqqa. These people are trapped inside a city being
Raqqa: People remain, but life does not
RBSS In Raqqa, there are many causes of death – indiscriminate airstrikes by international coalition warplanes, daily artillery shelling by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and ISIS mines scattered throughout the
Syria as we know it is over
Abdalaziz Alhamza “RBSS” It is unreasonable to talk about the Syria we once knew; its geography and demographics have been forever changed by the relentless brutality taking place across the
The unknown fates of the detainees in ISIS prisons
Abdalaziz Alhamza “RBSS” Since the beginning of 2014, when ISIS fully controlled the city of Raqqa, eyes all over the world were gazing into this small geographical area which was