pUS-backed Syrian Democratic Forcesa entered the Islamic State-held town of al-Tabqa on Monday, April 24, reportedlya capturing several areas in the southern and western outskirts of the Raqqa provincial town.ppThe SDF has laid siege to the IS-held town on all four axes in recent weeks as part of the third phase of the Kurdish Raqqa Offensivea.ppAfter entering the city on April 24, SDF fighters captured the southern Wahab and Alexandria Districts, as well as the western entrance to the city near the al-Tabqa Church.ppMedia activists inside the town warneda that they have been virtually cutoff from the outside world due to the ongoing siege and ensuing clashes around the city. In recent days, US-led coalition airstrikes purportedly knocked out communications infrastructure sites in the city.ppThe approximately 30,000 civilians residing inside al-Tabqa are facing grave humanitarian conditions. Resident Muhab Nasser saida the town has been without clean water and power for over a month and that access to food and critical medical supplies such as baby formula has remained limited.