Civilians trapped as IS mounts last stand in Syria's Raqa
Among the ruins of a street in Syria's Raqa, an anti-jihadist fighter's call echoes from a loudspeaker: "Civilians, we are waiting for you to leave to safety."
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces say they are close to defeating the last Islamic State group jihadists holed up in the city, which has been ravaged by US-led coalition air strikes.
The alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters has captured most of what was once the jihadists' Syrian stronghold, a city that became synonymous with IS's worst atrocities.
But thousands of civilians are feared to remain in Raqa, some used by IS as human shields according to the SDF.
In the remaining pockets held by the jihadists, the fighters are trying to encourage civilians to flee before they move in.
Near the city's large grain silos, SDF fighters urged civilians who fear IS snipers to emerge from their homes.
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