MESOP News Roundup SYRIA : Wednesday, June 3 / Kurd-rebel coalition at ‘entrance’ of Tel Abyad

The joint Kurdish-rebel Euphrates Volcano operations room captured several villages sitting at the “entrance” to the border city of Tel Abyad in A-Raqqa province Tuesday, a member of the media collective Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently told Syria Direct Wednesday.“These villages are important because they are the main entrance into Tel Abyad and their capture opens a path for the joint forces to reach A-Raqqa city,” said Hamud al-Hamza.Tel Abyad has witnessed a large-scale exodus of residents as the rebel and Kurdish forces approach, an aid worker in the city was quoted by pro-opposition London-based al-Araby al-Jadeed as saying Tuesday.

IS has reportedly threatened to confiscate the houses of Arab residents who flee, in an attempt to keep the city full of civilians and prevent international coalition airstrikes, the same source was quoted as saying.