beirut battle city raqqa islamic state use headquarter syria draw end islamic state militants lose swathe land various offensives across syria iraq force diminish foothold along euphrates river valley defeat raqqa would milestone fight roll back theocratic caliphate islamic state declare 2014 countries follow facts raqqa raqqa sit euphrates river around 90 km 56 miles turkish border north central syria hardline sunni militant group islamic state overrun raqqa january 2014 seize control rebel factions oppose rule syrian president bashar al-assad unite state say islamic state plan send team raqqa carry attack cities include paris brussels istanbul anti-is offensive syrian democratic force sdf alliance mostly kurdish arab militias begin advance towards raqqa city november 2016. encircle city launch offensive take face tough resistance unite states-led coalition support sdf air strike special force grind battle raqqa take severe toll civilians unite nations say march city contain around 200,000 people pre-war population since late last year fight around raqqa displace tens thousands people many flee city camp surround territory control sdf strong component kurdish ypg militia civilians trap inside islamic state enclave city endure miserable condition months lack water power food healthcare part raqqa sdf capture mostly clear residents air strike fight islamic state snipers mine kill many hundreds people coalition say careful avoid civilian casualties bomb run syria iraq u.n. human right office right group amnesty international raise concern report high civilian deaths islamic state impose strict interpretation islamic law raqqa residents fighters carry public executions lash violent punishments infringements rule raqqa campaign stir tension unite state nato-ally turkey potential kurdish influence future mainly arab city sensitive activists raqqa turkey ypg become main u.s. partner fight islamic state northern syria ankara view syrian extension kurdistan workers party pkk wag three-decade insurgency within turkey fear grow kurdish power along border sdf political ally set raqqa civil council people city sdf say hand control fighters defeat islamic state echo pattern towns cities sdf capture u.s.-led coalition help train new police force city islamic state make enemies side six-year syrian conflict separate offensives try clear last foothold towns along euphrates river eastern syria near iraqi border besides u.s.-backed sdf syrian army russian jet iran-backed militias also wag campaign islamic state eastern syria modern-day provincial transport hub market town raqqa build abbasid islamic caliphate eighth century serve capital one point inhabit since antiquity contain important archaeological architectural sit unite nations say extensively loot war religious build damage islamic state militants release video bomb large part uwais al-qarani shrine complex march 2014. factbox battle raqqa islamic state 's syrian hq near end