KURDISH guerillas launched their long-awaited offensive on the Isis stronghold of Raqqa yesterday — advancing from three sides on the Syrian town.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) — dominated by the Kurdish separatist YPG militia — attacked from the west, north-east and east of the city on the north bank of the Euphrates.

Unconfirmed reports said they had entered the city’s outskirts.