Kurdish female fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) gather during a celebration at the iconic Al-Naim square in Raqa on Oct. 19, 2017, after retaking the city from Islamic State (IS) group fighters. (AFP photo)
DAMASCUS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The spokesman of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said their goal is to take areas on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River from the Islamic State (IS), as the river would be the separation line between the SDF and the Syrian army in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour.
The military operation the SDF launched on Sept. 9 in the Deir al-Zour province against the IS militants aims to capture areas in the northern and eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour, Talal Silo told Xinhua on Friday.
"All of the areas adjacent to the river toward the north is the target of the Syrian Democratic Forces, and the Euphrates River will be the separation line between us and any other force on the western bank of the river," Silo said.
He noted, however, that entering the capital city of Deir al-Zour, where the Syrian army is closing in on IS, was not the aim of the SDF.
Silo said the Syrian army operations in Deir al-Zour against IS, mainly in the city and its southern and southeastern countryside, were not coordinated with the SDF, but said fighting IS there is "a mutual target."
"When the Syrian army captured the city of al-Mayadeen in Deir al-Zour, it wasn't coordinated but it was a mutual target ... any state, including the Syrian one and the Syrian army, is welcome if their aim is to defeat IS," he said.
He noted that neither al-Mayadeen city, which has recently been captured by the army nor the al-Bukamal, the last major stronghold of IS in Deir al-Zour near the Iraqi border is a target of the SDF.
Silo's remarks come at a time the SDF is focusing on stripping IS-held areas in the countryside of Deir al-Zour, following the defeat of IS in its de facto capital of Raqqa earlier this month.
The SDF, which is an alliance of Arabs, Kurds, and Assyrians led by the Kurdish YPG group, fully captured Raqqa on Oct. 17 following months battles against IS and heavy airstrikes by the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition.
After driving out IS from Raqqa, the SDF fighters started clearing the city from roadside bombs that were left by the IS militants.
Silo said the SDF will handle the rule in Raqqa to the Civil Council of Raqqa, which was formed by the SDF in April when the SDF was starting the operation against IS in the countryside of Raqqa.
Around 3,000 fighters joined the ranks of the police force in Raqqa to help in securing the situation while the SDF will protect that area from any external threat, he added.
The spokesman, meanwhile, said that 75 percent of Raqqa has been destroyed during the battles as a result of the explosions carried out by the IS militants.
He said the SDF urged the Western powers to rebuild Raqqa, noting that no response was made in that regard.
However, he said the U.S. had pledged to remove the rubble from the city.
Last month, the Raqqa Civil Council held meetings in Italy with a number of European countries as well as two Arab ones, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for the reconstruction process in Raqqa.
Silo said the two Arab countries agreed in principle to offer help for the rebuilding of the city and its infrastructures like hospitals, bakeries, and roads.
The SDF spokesman, meanwhile, said that desire of his group is for Raqqa to be part of the federal system the Kurds in northern and northeastern Syria are establishing.
"We said we wish that Raqqa could be part of the federal system or autonomous region and sure the families and tribesmen of Raqqa will decide, but the Raqqa Civil Council and tribesmen are demanding to be part of the federal system and we are working hard to achieve it," he said.
