Syria rebels lay siege to Al Qaida-linked jihadists in Raqa

Beirut: Rebel fighters were laying siege on Monday to Al Qaida-linked jihadists in their northern stronghold of Raqa, managing to free 50 people they had detained, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Raqa emerged as a new front on Sunday in fighting between rebels battling to oust President Bashar Al Assad, with various groups joining forces against Al Qaida affiliate the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

“The rebels have been laying siege to Isil’s headquarters in the city of Raqa since last night. They released 50 Syrian prisoners held by Isil in another building,” said the Observatory.

Raqa is the only provincial capital to have fallen out of regime hands since the devastating conflict broke out in March 2011.