Families fleeing Syria's Raqqa say air strikes bring heavy toll

A man who claimed to be wounded by an air strike at the frontline during fightings between the Syrian Democratic forces and Islamic State militants in Raqqa speaks to reporters at a mosque in Raqqa, Syria October 12, 2017. REUTERS/Erik De Castro

RAQQA, Syria (Reuters) - Air raids by U.S. coalition warplanes have intensified in recent days as Kurdish and Arab militias seek to drive surrounded Islamic State militants from their last strongholds in Syria's Raqqa -- but the toll on civilians has been severe.

Hundreds of civilians fled the city on Thursday, many wounded and malnourished after being trapped for months by fighting between Islamic State and the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).