Smog clouded over the neighbourhood, the parching heat of the sun and the heat of the battle melted down. The battle has left already two months behind and more than half of the city has been liberated by now. Until the very moment I am writing this article here, at all sides of Raqqa intense clashes are taking place and reports are coming through of advances being made at a constant pace.

Between Quseyî M. Elî and his own home only 200 metres were left. A fierce battle was fought at the eastern part of the neighbourhood Nazlat Shehade. Bullets were shot in salvos.

Quseyî, who is fighting against the ISIS gangs for two years now, has fought in the ranks of the SDF, partaking in many operations liberating several areas from the gangs. The story of Quseyî is similar to those of many of the SDF fighters. He used to live in Raqqa until two years ago when the ISIS gangs swept over the city, beheading his little brother and abducting another of his brothers, who has not been heard of since. As I was asking him these questions, Quseyî replied to me shaking with tension. I asked him: "Have you come to avenge your brothers and get your home back?". He said: "No. Countless people have been beheaded by ISIS like my little brother and the homes of all of us have been seized by them. Yes, I carry a deep-felt hatred towards these barbarians, but I am here for all of the people and homes of Raqqa."

We arrived newly at the Nazlat Shehade neighbourhood. The people told us that the inhabitants of this neighbourhood had been very wealthy and baggers used to come and sit on these streets, contributing eventually to its name Nazlat Shehade meaning capital of beggars.

It was afternoon. The heat was unbearable, about 45 degrees I guessed. From the emplacement of Quseyî we headed further to the next position. As soon as we reached it gunfire of snipers exploded behind our backs. From below the voice of a SDF fighter could be heard, whom an ISIS sniper shot in the foot. His wound was not severe and he was sent off to the hospital. In that very moment a heavy fight broke out. According to the SDF fighters, the ISIS sniper who had positioned himself near to them was killed.

The neighbourhood is impressively large. Optimal for the ISIS gangs who planted land mines at every spot possible. To move around here, is a dangerous game. And the fight expanded soon to the entire neighbourhood. From the mobile radios cracking voices reported of the rescue of around one hundred civilians from the neighbourhood, the death of more than 10 ISIS members and the bombardment of Coalition Warplanes on ISIS positions. A smog shrouded the whole neighbourhood in its grip, the burning heat of the sun and the heat of the battle intermingled.