The Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) has taken full control of the city of Raqqa following the withdrawal of the Raqqa Rebel Brigade, considered part of the Nusra Front from the neighborhood of Rumailat Jafra.
The Ahrar al-Sham Brigade had previously withdrawn from the city ahead of Nusra.
Activists said that ISIS has directed some of its fighters towards the location of the 17th brigade, the last regime stronghold close to the city, and one of its three centers inside the governorate; the others are the Tabga Airport and Brigade 93.
Sources confirmed that seven days of battles between ISIS and its rivals had resulted in the loss of 250 fighters from both sides, most of them from Ahrar al-Sham and the Nusra Front, while 50 civilians at least had been killed.
ISIS earlier took control of the city of Tal Abyad and the border crossing with Turkey.
The Hamza Brigade, or The Lion of Allah, is responsible for the protection of the border crossing, while the local council of the city of Tal Abyad is responsible for the city's civil administration.
The city of Tabga has also fallen under control of ISIS, following an agreement with other factions which gave up their weapons and headquarters.
The governorate had suffered during the battles from difficult humanitarian circumstances, as bakeries stopped producing bread. Corpses were also reportedly scattered in the streets. The situation is now improving in the cities and towns of the governorate. Activists said that the Tal Abyad hospital is functioning again and that the markets in Raqqa had restarted commercial activity, however, the bread crisis continues.
Translated and edited by The Syrian Observer
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