We have followed the operation to liberate Raqqa launched on popular demand from the people of Raqqa on November 5, 2016 since its beginning, and we continue our coverage on the second stage of the operation on every front.

In every front we visited, we had the chance to follow SDF fighters’ advance minute by minute.

In the villages, hamlets and war fronts SDF fighters clear from ISIS gangs and liberate, we get the chance to speak to Arab, Turkmen, Kurdish, Assyrian and Circassian fighters and others from different ethnic and faith groups who are part of the SDF and fight against fascist ISIS gangs.

We listen to each fighter’s story at night, over some tea by the fires, and in trenches in the frontlines.

Some lost their families in the war, some lost their spouses and children. Some were exiled from their villages and cities by ISIS, Al Nusra, Ahrar Al Sham and other gangs, or the Baath regime.

Because of the war, some of their families left for Turkey, Bakurê Kurdistan or Europe on a slim hope. But most of them died while crossing the border or in the sea on their way to Europe.

But there are those who didn’t leave their lands and are fighting, falling captive, escaping and taking up fighting again to build a democratic and free Syria, against gangs like ISIS, Al Nusra, Ahrar Al Sham and the Baath regime.

One of these people is Ebu Seyf.

Ebu Seyf is an Arab from Raqqa. We met him at the western Raqqa front, where he was reluctant to speak at first, because he still has relatives captive in Raqqa under ISIS gangs.

But we insist, and the 26 year old accepts. But under one condition! Ebu Seyf says he has family in Raqqa and doesn’t want to be recorded on video.

I say I understand, but not taking any footage is impossible. I tell him I need at least a couple of photographs. Ebu Seyf admits he has no choice but to accept.

And he starts to tell the story of himself and his family.

Ebu Seyf starts by introducing himself. He is an Arab from Raqqa, and he took part in the demonstrations during the popular insurgency period in Syria. Ebu Seyf was in FSA for about 3 months.

But as FSA started to fall under the influence of international and national powers, he left. He says the city he was born and raised in, Raqqa, fell under first FSA, then gang groups like Al Nusra and Ahrar Al Sham, and finally ISIS control.

Ebu Seyf says ISIS beheaded 2 people from his family and executed 2 more under torture. He himself was held captive by ISIS gangs for 48 days. Ebu Seyf was subjected to intense torture for weeks, and he found a way to escape the ISIS dungeon.

After SDF was formed, Ebu Seyf joined as a fighter. He says the fundamental reason he joined was to liberate his family and his lands, and take back the revolution that was stolen from the peoples of Syria.

Ebu Seyf says their goal is to clear ISIS gangs from Syria completely, starting with Raqqa. He says their morale is high because they are excited to be liberating their lands.

Ebu Seyf says their first goal is clearing occupied Syrian territory like Raqqa, Bab, Jarablus, Azez and then all of Syria, and that they will fight until the last drop of their blood to this end, and avenge all peoples.

Ebu Seyf concludes with calling on all who left Syria to return to their lands, on Arab youth to join SDF and increase the fight for freedom, justice and equality against the ISIS gangs.