Raqqa serves as a de facto capital of the self-declared Caliphate. Within the city, there has seen a week-long state of alert amongst ISIS militants.

“ISIS erected barriers between major districts of Raqqa city,” media activist Abdulkarim al-Yousef told ARA News in Raqqa. “New security checkpoints have been installed across the city, including near the al-Naeem Roundabout, al-Muhafaza Square, Saad Bin Muaz Mosque and al-Zedan Square.”

As previously mentioned, ISIS militants have fanned out, imposing a curfew in Raqqa. Dozens of people have reportedly been arrested at the newly established security checkpoints for violating the curfew.

While ISIS tightened its internal security, ISIS vehicles arrived in Raqqa, coming from Iraq. According to S Awad, an eyewitness, “More than 20 vehicles crossed the border and entered Raqqa on Tuesday at midnight, carrying ISIS militants and weapons.”

The ISIS new redeployments and repression are likely related to the advances being made by the Iraqi forces. On Monday, allied forces began the battle for Mosul and rapidly progressed towards the Caliphate’s Iraqi capital, ARA News reported.
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