BEIRUT — US-backed Syrian fighters fought Islamic State militants Monday in the heart of Raqqa, the extremists’ self-styled capital, as scores of civilians fled areas controlled by the group.

The Kurdish-led group has been one of the most effective forces fighting the Islamic State in Syria, but has also clashed with Turkish-backed Syrian forces elsewhere in the country.

As they battled the Islamic State in Raqqa, the Syrian Democratic Forces also fought Turkish-allied Syrian forces in Ein Daqna, in neighboring Aleppo province, according to Turkish media.

The Syrian Democratic Forces, aided by the US-led coalition, launched their offensive to capture Raqqa on June 6, and have since taken several areas.

The fighting comes a week after Iraq declared victory against the Islamic State in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

Associated Press