US-led forces hold two-thirds of Raqa

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, now controls more than two-thirds of the Islamic State group's former Syrian stronghold Raqa, a monitor said yesterday.

The SDF entered Raqa in early June, after months of fighting to encircle the city with support from the US-led coalition against IS.

The militia "controls 70 percent of Raqa after taking the Al-Thakana district in the centre of the city," said Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor.

"The advance was made possible by violent clashes and heavy air strikes by the international coalition," he told AFP.

"We can say that the battle for Raqa has entered its final phase," he added.

"The end of fighting will be dictated by the international coalition. Air power will be the main, determining factor."

The fierce fighting has pushed civilians to flee away from the frontline into remaining IS-held areas in the north of the city, the monitor said.

Tens of thousands of people have fled the fighting since the SDF offensive began.