Special to WorldTribune.com

A group of Kurdish rebels who are part of the U.S.-backed alliance in Syria said on Oct. 29 that they would soon launch an offensive on Islamic State of Iraq and Levant’s (ISIL’s) main stronghold in Raqqa province.

In a video posted on YouTube, the Raqqa Revolutionaries Front, one of several rebel groups in the recently formed Democratic Forces of Syria, said an attack on Raqqa was imminent.

“We will soon announce zero hour for the beginning of the battle of liberation from oppression and persecution,” Raqqa Revolutionaries Front leader Abu Issa said in the video.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on Oct. 27 said that the U.S.-led coalition would back the rebel alliance in their efforts to drive ISIL from Raqqa and key cities in neighboring Iraq.

“It will be a historic battle, for Raqqa first and Syria second,” Abu Issa said. “Today we declare Raqqa province in its entirety a military zone. For this reason its people must not go near areas where there are Daesh (ISIL) elements” for their own safety.

The Democratic Forces of Syria alliance includes the Kurdish YPG militia and a number of Syrian Arab rebel groups who draw their forces mainly from Arab tribal insurgents.

The United States recently changed its strategy in the fight against ISIL, deciding to support Syrian Arab forces already on the ground instead of attempting to train new moderate Syrian fighters outside the country. The failed training program cost millions of dollars and sent few fighters to the battlefield.

  Democratic Forces of Syria, Raqqa Revolutionaries Front, U.S.-backed Kurdish-rebel alliance says assault on ISIL imminent, WorldTribune.com, YPG