Syrian group 'cuts main road' out of ISIL-held Raqqa

Major advance claimed in push to seize ISIL's
de-facto capital along with the destruction of
Euphrates River bridges.

US-backed Syrian fighters have cut the last main road out of
Raqqa, the de-facto capital of the Islamic State of Iraq and
the Levant (ISIL) group, according to Kurdish military sources
and a Britain-based monitor.

If confirmed, it would be a major advance for the Syrian
Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed mainly Kurdish Syrian
group, in its phased push to surround and ultimately capture
Raqqa.

The SDF said its forces have cut the highway between Raqqa
and Deir Az Zor province.

"Cutting the road between Raqqa and Deir Az Zor means that
practically the encirclement of Daesh capital is complete by
land," the Kurdish military sources told Reuters, using the
Arabic acronym for ISIL.

Air strikes by the US-led coalition have also destroyed the
bridges across the Euphrates River to Raqqa, according to the
monitor, the Syrian Organisation for Human Rights.


Reporting from the Turkish-border town of Gaziantep, A source said the major parties involved in
the conflict are taking a "wait and watch approach" to see
what US President Donald Trump will do.

Last month, the Pentagon submitted a proposal to the US
administration on how to speed up the fight against ISIL, also
known as ISIS.

In a joint address to Congress last week, Trump said that he
had directed the defence department to develop a plan to
"demolish and destroy" ISIL.

In the last week, the SDF took control of a major highway
near the city of Al Bab.

The highway allows basic necessities to be transported as far
east as Raqqa.

Syrians living in the city of Azaz near the Turkish border told
Media that they are worried about the cost of goods.

"The prices are getting higher. The goods are fewer. We're
being controlled by the traders. We're forced to fight,"
Mohamed Ahmed, Azaz resident, said.

More than 66,000 people have been forced to flee fighting in
northern Syria, according to the UN.

A petrol-station worker expressed fear that the cost of fuel 
will go up.

"Today, a barrel of diesel is $122. There's a chance it'll
increase to $130. The vehicles run on diesel. The bakery
 runs on diesel. So prices will go up," Abu Mahmoud said.