recaptured the excess city of mosul, democratic forces who are primarily parish are advancing on another isis stronghold. in battle for a syrian city is intensifying. significantly smaller in size then most will, the fight for raqqa is still a major military challenge. isis has had months to dig in and are using many of the same tactics that they did in neighboring mosul, including using some of the 50,000 remaining civilians as shields against advancing troops. militants also regularly send suicide bombers and armed drones against anti-isis troops. coalition forces are also backed by american air power, which has launched hundreds of air strikes on isis positions in recent months. also among those fighting with the spf, dozens of foreign volunteers, including kevin howard. a former military contractor from california. >> i fought in iraq in