Syrian Kurdish YPG says Raqqa attack to start in early April
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BEIRUT -- The head of the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia said a US-backed assault to drive Islamic State from its de-facto capital Raqqa would begin at the start of April and the YPG would be taking part, despite fierce opposition from neighbouring Turkey.
A spokesman for the US Pentagon, Navy Captain Jeff Davis, said no decision had been made yet on the Raqqa offensive, which is part of a two pronged attempt to dismantle the caliphate declared by Islamic State in parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014.
The comments by YPG commander Sipan Hemo to Reuters were the first indication of a date of an attack.
In a written reply to questions, Hemo, who rarely if ever appears in the media, said: "Regarding the decision to liberate Raqqa and storm it, the matter is decided and at the start of the month of April the military operation will begin."
