U.S. Coalition Pounds ISIS Stronghold In Air Assault
RAQQA, Syria, July 5 (UPI) — The Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa, Syria, has been targeted in one of the largest U.S.-led coalition bombings since the start of the airstrikes against the militant Islamist group.
At least 23 Islamic State members were killed in the 16 airstrikes carried out by the coalition on Saturday. Raqqa was declared as the capital of the self-declared Islamic State “caliphate,” in 2014.
“The significant air strikes tonight were executed to deny Daesh [IS] the ability to move military capabilities throughout Syria and into Iraq,” military spokesman Lt. Col. Thomas Gilleran said
The bombings against IS by the U.S.-led coalition began in September.
IS beheaded two women in Syria Tuesday. The beheadings occurred in separate Syrian locations. One took place in the city of Deir al-Zor, where a woman and her husband were decapitated following charges of sorcery and witchcraft.
Another couple faced the same fate in the town of al-Mayadeen, along with five other men who were crucified after being accused of eating during daylight hours in the month of Ramadan, an annual fasting season for believers of Islam.
Beheadings are typically reserved for men — this is the first time that the Islamic State has decapitated women. However, women accused of adultery have been stoned to death.
Tomas Monzon contributed to this report.
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