Secretly filming in the IS-group held city of Raqqa

[Valin]

France 24:

Djamel Belayachi.

10/6/14

 

 

“The jihadists have become more discreet since the strikes began”

Abou Warid al-Raqqawi runs the Facebook page named “Raqqa is silently bleeding to death”.

 

 

Since the start of the airstrikes [by the international coalition] on Raqqa, many Islamic State (IS) group fighters have taken refuge in schools located in residential areas, so as to use civilians as human shields. They’ve stockpiled food and equipment in these schools.

 

Since the start of the strikes, about a hundred jihadist fighters have travelled to Kobane to take part in the siege against the Kurds. Others have left with their families in buses for Deir Ezzor to the east, to then go to Iraq. Yet others have taken refuge in the Kurdish village of Ain Issa, to the north. Those that remain in the city have become more discreet.

 

Many of Raqqa’s residents have fled to nearby villages or to Turkey. Those that have stayed here have barricaded themselves in their houses, and only creep out in the early morning to buy the bare necessities, like bread. The streets are basically empty. Before, the jihadists were constantly patrolling the streets, and forced all shopkeepers to go to the mosque during the prayer times. Such patrols have become very rare. Sometimes they set up checkpoints for just two or three hours.

 

 

(Snip)

 

 

You Tube