US Forces Blocked Syrian Army Advance

The road to Raqqa is now blocked by US forces and their allies and the chances that Raqqa (and the surrounding region) will be returned to Syria seem slim. 

US Special Forces and Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters captured the Taqba air base from Daesh in northern Syria and blocked the advance of the Syrian Army in doing so.

Earlier, US forces airlifted SDF fighters behind Daesh lines to allow them to launch the assault. They are now within 10km of Raqqa from the north with the aim of surrounding the city before launching their assault.

They also seized four small villages in the area west of Tabqa and cut a main highway that links the provinces of Raqqa, Deir al-Zor, and Aleppo.

The only access in or out of Raqqa now is now across the Euphrates River.

Incredibly, a foreign army in violation of international law and Syria’s sovereignty, invaded and prevents the Syrian army from liberating its own city from terrorists. 

Moscow's reaction could be very interesting and will we see Russian elite troops dropped in the center of Raqqa? Or will Russia, Syria and Iran just roll over and play dead?