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Activists say Kurdish-led forces advance on IS-held Raqqa

This frame grab from video provided by The Syrian Democratic Forces, a U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces outlet that is consistent with independent AP reporting, shows Jihan Sheikh Ahmed, Spokeswoman for the Syrian Democratic Forces, reads a statement after they captured the Tabqa town from the Islamic State militants, in Tabqa town, north Syria, Friday May 12, 2017.(Syrian Democratic Forces via AP) This frame grab from video provided by The Syrian Democratic Forces, a U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces outlet that is consistent with independent AP reporting, shows Jihan Sheikh Ahmed, Spokeswoman for the Syrian Democratic Forces, reads a statement after they captured the Tabqa town from the Islamic State militants, in Tabqa town, north Syria, Friday May 12, 2017.(Syrian Democratic Forces via AP)

By Associated Press May 13, 2017 1 min read

BEIRUT (AP) – Syrian opposition activists and media say Kurdish-led forces are closing in on the de-facto capital of the Islamic State group in Syria, seizing a cotton factory only a couple of miles north of the city.

The Raqqa Campaign, a Facebook page affiliated with the Kurdish-led forces, says the fighters seized the cotton factory, 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) north of the city on Saturday. Kurdish media also report the factory is captured.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, backed by airstrikes from the U.S.-led coalition, are on a multi-pronged offensive, clashing with militants northeast and northwest of Raqqa.

The Kurdish-led forces said Friday they expect to advance on Raqqa this summer, following their capture of a strategic town and dam west of the city.