IS members who have moved to Raqqa, in turn, have boasted online of plentiful food and a high quality of life in their new capital.
“The burgers are better in the caliphate,” posted one British fighter.
Others frequently refer to the locals pejoratively as “Madaeen”, or civilians, on social media.
With thousands of Syrians fleeing Raqqa, both Wissam and Mohammed said newcomers had occupied vacant homes. According to Wissam, tenants of more desirable apartments in better neighbourhoods were evicted by force to make room for the new foreign families.
In one case, he said, the building was occupied after the landlord was accused of siding with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
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