Syria: IS propaganda concedes Mosul defeat

Event

Following defeat in Mosul, Iraq, and Homs province in Syria in recent weeks, the Islamic State (IS) promised that the fight for Raqqa will be “no picnic,” according to an unnamed IS commander interviewed in the latest edition of its propaganda magazine, Rumiyah. The issue, released Monday, August 7, warns that heavily booby-trapped buildings and waves of vehicle-borne bombs await the international anti-IS coalition in the group’s de facto capital city.  This publication, proclaiming that IS still remains a potent force within its self-declared capital, comes as US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces encircled Raqqa last month, and as Russian-backed Syrian government forces and allied Hezbollah proclaimed that they had pushed IS out of Homs province on Saturday, August 5. Syrian government forces also continue to advance against IS in Hama province and in southern Raqqa province. Heavy fighting between IS and international anti-IS forces is expected as the group continues to lose ground in Syria and Iraq.

Context

Rumiyah frames the crumbling of the so-called caliphate in Syria and Iraq in dramatic terms, most recently referring to its defeat in Mosul last month as “part of the prophecy.” Syria is enmeshed in a complex civil war that started between the Assad government and opposition forces in March 2011. Today, the conflict in Syria involves many parties, including the Syrian government, the Russian government, the Iranian government, the Turkish government, a United States-led coalition, and numerous armed groups on the ground (including the Islamic State) with competing goals. Multiple rounds of negotiations to establish a political solution to the civil war have taken place in Geneva. More recently, Russia-initiated rounds of peace talks have taken place in Astana but do not include a US delegation as an active participant.

Advice

Due to extremely poor security conditions, Western governments generally advise against all travel to Syria, with some countries banning travel to the country. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to any travel to Syria.