At least 7 people from the same family have been killed Wednesday in the US-led coalition airstrikes on Raqqa city, as its allied Kurdish fighters reached the northern entrance of the city, the activist-operated Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently said.
The intense clashes and airstrikes on Raqqa's northern and eastern edges have been continued as the Syrian Democratic Forces press more gains on western bank of Euphrates River, activists said.
The SDF fighters on Tuesday reached the northern entrance of the de facto capital of ISIS.
The latest push by the Kurdish-led forces brings them to about 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the city where a long and deadly battle is expected in the coming weeks, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The latest push comes as airstrikes have intensified in recent days. U.S.-backed fighters have pushed in toward the city, getting closer from all sides. The SDF have captured dozens of towns and villages since November, when the group began an operation entitled Euphrates Wrath, aiming to eventually surround and capture Raqqa.
SDF fighters have surrounded Raqqa from the north, west and east. The extremists still have an exit from the south, even though the U.S.-led coalition destroyed southern two bridges over the Euphrates River.
The Observatory said SDF fighters captured gas and water facilities on the northern edge of Raqqa. The group posted a video showing ISIS black flags still flying over the northern entrance of Raqqa with a giant ISIS banner reading "the northern sector thanks you for your visit. The Islamic State."
Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently said that the U.S.-led coalition targeted areas of fighting north of the city near a major ISIS base known as Division 17.
