Civilians Evacuated as Fighting Intensifies in Raqqa

About 300 civilians were evacuated from the Islamic State’s (IS) de facto capital, Raqqa, on August 17, according to the Syrian Democratic Forces, as fighting in and around the city intensified.

Heavy fighting between the US-backed SDF and Islamic State militants was reported in the old city and the city center, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

At least 38 civilians were killed, including 10 children, in a 48-hour period of US-backed coalition airstrikes on the city, the Observatory said. Credit: YPG Press Office via Storyful