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DAMASCUS, June 12-- The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are advancing in the Islamic State (IS) group de facto capital of Raqqa in northern Syria, while civilians are paying the price of the battles. Since unleashing their offensive last Tuesday, the SDF, a combination of Kurd, Arab and Assyrian fighters led by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) group, has made progress on several fronts in the east, west and northeast of Raqqa. A well-informed source familiar with the operations in Raqqa said the SDF and allies, with the heavy backing of the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition, have so far captured several neighborhoods in Raqqa, namely the Mashlab and Sina'a in the east, and Sbahiyeh, Jazra and Romaniyeh in the west. The source and the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the SDF's control over Sina'a neighborhood is their largest achievement so far, as it will put them at the gates of the old city of Raqqa. The SDF have reached the Bab Baghdad area as well as two shrines called Ammar Bin Yasser and Oweis al-Qurani, the source said. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said the Kurdish-led forces are expecting to capture Raqqa within two months. Meanwhile, activists close to the SDF said the Kurdish-led group has liberated 350 square km of areas in Raqqa since last Tuesday, adding that 44 IS militants were killed Monday, when the SDF foiled an IS attack in the liberated areas in Raqqa. | 
