Syrian Gov’t Flag Hoisted by People in Raqqa

Field sources reported that a group of people in Raqqa named ‘popular forces in the Eastern Region’ hoisted the Syrian government’s flag over one of the buildings of Raqqa city on Wednesday.

They also vowed to fight against the US forces and their affiliated militants in the region, according to the sources.

Tensions and clashes have increased between Raqqa residents and the American and US-backed Kurdish forces in recent days.

In a relevant development last week, a large number of people residing in Western Raqqa poured into the streets against the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), field sources said, adding that armed clashes erupted between the two sides.

The sources reported that residents of the village of al-Mansoureh and several other nearby regions in Western Raqqa engaged in heavy clashes with the SDF forces, adding that civilians set fire at a number of Kurdish forces’ bases.

They also said that a number of SDF forces and civilians were wounded in the clashes.

Based on the report, the clashes happened after the Kurdish forces detained the leader of Bu Khamis tribe, Sheikh Bashir Hamdan al-Hashmar.