Local source: ISIS demands all Kurds depart Raqqa

RAQQA, Syria — The Islamic State group has warned Kurdish residents of Raqqa to leave the city in three days, reportedly in an attempt to avoid anti-ISIS sleeper cells, a local source told Rudaw.
 
The source, who asked to remain anonymous due to security reasons, told Rudaw late Tuesday ISIS has informed Syria’s Kurdish families in its stronghold Raqqa to leave and move to nearby areas like Hams and Tadmar.
 
According to the source, the extremists issued a three-day ultimatum to the Kurds inside Raqqa.  
 
“In the letters the ISIS Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s signature is missing,” the source added.
 
“They are scared of Kurdish sleeper cells. They know Kurds will help Kurdish fighters against their gunmen,” the source claimed.
 
The ISIS warning follows a series of major offensives by the Kurdish fighters of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) against ISIS in Tal Abyad, known to Kurds as Gire Spi. The Kurdish taking of the city cut off a key ISIS supply road to Raqqa from Turkey.
 
Ein Eissa’s Syrian military base, once held by ISIS elements, was also liberated by YPG fighters days after the Gire Spi victory.