PHOTO: Kurdish fighters near Ain Issa, 30 miles north of Raqqa in northern Syria

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A joint Kurdish-Free Syrian Army force is within 50 km (30 miles) of Raqqa, the Islamic State’s center in Syria, after capturing the town of Ain Issa.

The seven-week “Euphrates Volcano” offensive has already swept along the Turkish border, covering 90 km (56 miles) to link the Kurdish cantons of Kobane and Cezire. Last week Kurdish forces, supported by the FSA, took Tel Abyad and the nearby crossing on the Turkish border.

Following that victory, the offensive has moved south towards Raqqa, seized by the Islamic State in autumn 2013 from rebels.

Islamic State resistance appears to be limited so far. The Kurdish YPG militia is acknowledging two dead from the Ain Issa operation, and it claims that the militants failed to set out a suicide vehicle bomb on Tuesday, with the car destroyed before the explosives were detonated on their target.

In addition to capturing Ain Issa, the YPG is claiming the takeover of a series of villages south of Tel Abyad as well as confirming the occupation of the Brigade 93 base that the Islamic State had taken from the regime last August.

The Islamic State has made no statement so far about the losses in northern Syria. However, an audio from spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, released on Tuesday, implicitly referred to the defeats: “Attack [our enemies] everywhere and shake the ground beneath them. If you lose territory, you will win it back and more in the future, God willing.”

Al-Adnani urged followers to step up attacks in Iraq, Syria, and Libya during Ramadan, turning it into “calamity for the infidels…Shi’ites and apostate Muslims”: “Be keen to conquer in this holy month and to become exposed to martyrdom.”

“We will continue, God willing, in our path and will not care even if many nations gang up against us or how many swords we are struck by,” al-Adnani said.

Video: Aftermath of Deadly Barrel Bomb on Naeemah, East of Daraa City

As rebels announce a campaign to free Daraa city in southern Syria (see earlier entry), the regime has barrel-bombed nearby areas, including Naeemah to the east (Warning: Graphic Images of Victims, Including Children):

Videos: Rebels Claim Capture of Khalidiya Section of Western Aleppo

Rebels are claiming success in their offensive in western Aleppo city, taking the section of Khalidiya:

The rebels launched a new series of attacks last week to advance in western Aleppo, pressing the regime in its section of the divided city (see below).

Local Sources Challenge Report of 574 Detainees Swapped for Justice Minister

UPDATE: Captain Islam Alloush, a spokesman for Jaish al-Islam, has denied the Zaman al-Wasl story via Twitter:

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Reliable local sources have denied the details of a claim, spread by a pro-opposition newspaper, that rebels have swapped the abducted Justice Minister for 574 detainees.

Zaman al-Wasl wrote, from a “well-informed source”, that Najm al-Ahmed and dozens of people seized by the rebel faction Jaish al-Islam were traded for the detainees, most of whom were from the Damascus suburb of Douma.

Al-Ahmed was reportedly kidnapped in Damascus on June 9.

Zaman al-Wasl also asserted that the regime handed over more than 300 million Syrian Pounds ($1 million) to the rebels.

Rebels Signal Start of Offensive to “Liberate” Daraa City

A senior rebel figure, Mohammad Alloush, indicated on Twitter on Wednesday morning that the “Southern Storm” offensive will soon begin to free Daraa city in southern Syria from the regime:

Alloush appeals, “Oh God, help our brothers begin the liberation of the city of Daraa.”

The staff of Zahran Alloush, the head of the Jaish al-Islam faction, later publicized his presence in the offensive:

[Note: The Tweet on the Alloush account was deleted by Thursday morning.]

Rebels already control most of Daraa Province, having taken additional territory this spring along the Jordanian border and captured the regime’s Brigade 52 army base — one of the largest in the south — earlier this month.

PR video for “Southern Storm”:

Israel Arrests 9 Suspects In Ambulance Attacks, Beating and Killing of Wounded Syrians

Israeli police have arrested nine suspects over two attacks on Israel Defense Forces ambulances carrying wounded Syrians.

See Syria Daily, June 23: Druze Attack Israeli Ambulance Carrying Syrian Wounded, 1 Killed

Five of the suspects were arrested on Wednesday morning in the Golan village of Majdal Shams, where an attack on Monday night killed one Syrian and seriously wounded another. The other four are suspected in an attack earlier that day in the northern village of Horfish, in where there were no casualties.

Both attacks were carried out by Druze residents of the Golan, protesting Israel’s treatment of injured Syrians as support for the Islamist faction Jabhat al-Nusra.

Israeli officials said the beaten and killed men did not belong to Jabhat al-Nusra, and an Israel activist tweeted that they were not even fighters:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet Wednesday with the leadership of the Israeli Druze community. The Israel Police, Israel Defense Forces, and intelligence agencies held an emergency meeting Tuesday afternoon to consider actions to prevent further Druze attacks.

Photo: Men Keep Eyes on the Sky During Fast-Breaking Iftar in Aleppo

During the iftar breaking the day’s fast in Ramadan, men in Aleppo keep their eyes on the sky:

ALEPPO RAMADAN IFTAR

Despite regime airstrikes, rebels have advances in sections of western Aleppo in an offensive which started last week.

Fighters of the Free Syrian Army’s 13th Division, with activists claiming the capture of several buildings on Tuesday:

Rebels in Layramoun:

Further images of battles: