US-led coalition: 16 strikes near Syria's Raqqa
The US Central Command says aircraft of the American-led coalition have conducted 16 airstrikes in northern Syria, where Kurdish-led forces have launched an offensive aiming to liberate the city of Raqqa, the Islamic State group's de facto capital.
Monday's command statement says the strikes hit near the Ein Issa area, north of Raqqa, and that they engaged 12 ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, five vehicles and two vehicles rigged with explosives.
It says the airstrikes were conducted on Sunday, the day when a coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters known as the Syria Democratic Forces said they have started the march to liberate Raqqa.
Activists and SDF reported intense clashes on Monday north of Raqqa.
