Syriac Military Council fighters Havro and Zeyd spoke to ANF and stated that rural parts of Raqqa are being liberated as the freedom of the people of Raqqa begins.

Havro stated that Syriacs have been one of the earliest residents of the region and have lived in fraternity with other peoples. Havro said they have been participating in the operation since the beginning, and have liberated a significant amount of rural Raqqa from ISIS gangs so far. He emphasized that the people of Raqqa are beginning to breathe freedom, and fighters from different peoples and faith groups are fighting side by side against ISIS during the operation.

Havro said “The more we fight side by side, the stronger grows our will for co-existence. We fully believe that we will liberate Raqqa. Democratic Syria will be constructed sooner or later.”

Another Syriac Military Council fighter Zeyd noted that wars are often destructive, but sometimes they strengthen the fraternity inside society. Recalling that Raqqa is a city known for its rich culture, he emphasized that they were honored to be participating in an operation to liberate a city that is the mosaic of peoples. Zeyd emphasized that people of different ethnicities and faiths across Syria came together for the Operation Wrath of Euphrates, and want to end the cruelty that Raqqa’s residents experienced first under the control of al Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham, and later under ISIS occupation.