ISIS Declaring State of Emergency?
WHITFIELD: And we're following new developments out of Syria where the terror group ISIS appears to have declared the state of emergency. The Pentagon says it's seeing new evidence of ISIS fighters being scrambled inside itself-declared capital of Raqqah, possibly preparing for a siege. Well, this comes after U.S. backed forces have started to surround the city in recent months, helping to cut off supply lines. CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr explains.</s>BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: U.S. military officials have been closely monitoring social media and other reports that ISIS has declared a state of emergency in Raqqah, its self-declared capital inside Syria. That's a city that ISIS holds very dear. They've been in control of it for sometime. So, what does this state of emergency really mean? U.S. officials saying they have some evidence showing ISIS fighters are moving around in the city, some of them trying to leave the city that they're putting up covers shades, trying to cover sidewalks, areas where they maybe all to try and stay hidden from potential air strikes or ground action. ISIS may, in fact, be getting nervous in Raqqah. They have seen militia movements moved closer and closer. Some of the areas surrounding Raqqah, now, not necessarily under ISIS control. All of this making the group maybe for the first time very nervous about being able to hold on to the city that they consider their capital. Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.</s>WHITFIELD: All right, let's take a closer look now. Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona is a CNN Military Analyst and a former U.S. Military Attache in Syria. All right, so what do these developments tell you about the war on ISIS?</s>LT. COL. RICK FRANCONA, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, I think ISIS beginning to feel the pressure. As Barbara said, they're very nervous. If you look at their situation in Raqqah, they're under pressure from the north, from the east, and the west, from the Kurds and the Syrian Democratic forces, the U.S. backed forces, much more effective use of air power now, now that we've got American forces on the ground, controlling those air strikes much more effective bringing a lot more damage to ISIS. And then they're also feeling pressure from the south with the Syrian army, although, the Syrian army has almost stopped its attack from the south and has more pivoted toward the fighting in Aleppo. So, they've taken a little bit of pressure off there, but they are very, very concerned. They're also seeing their supply lines between Raqqah and Mosul get cut. They know that there are two big fights coming. There's going to the battle for Mosul and the battle for Raqqah and they're preparing. I think they're being a little premature, because I don't see an attack on Raqqah in the offing anytime soon. But there are preparations underway.</s>WHITFIELD: Are you also concerned that ISIS, at least, in this region, could be reorganizing as a -- in response to the -- in response to these new hurdles?</s>FRANCONA: Yeah, that's a good point. What we're seeing is they're trying to cut the supply lines for the Syrian army, and that didn't go too well. They really took a beating out there to the west of Raqqah, primarily at the hands of the Kurds and the Syrian Democratic forces. So, they are no longer on the roll, the momentum that they had when we were talking about this, you know, even a year ago. Now, they're being rolled back up and being pushed back into their enclave. So, they are trying to reorganize, but -- and they're under a lot of pressure, Fred. Remember, they've lost a lot of money. Their recruit stream is down by one third. Their salaries have been cut. So, they are really starting to feel the pressure. I think it's only a matter of time before the balance slips the other way and we start to see some real victories.</s>WHITFIELD: It's feeling the pressure the same as weakening?</s>FRANCONA: I don't think we should sell them too short, but, yes, I think it's going to have an effect. You know, as we take out their leadership, and the U.S. has been very, very good, with the new -- with the better sources of intelligence developed over the years, we're able to go after the leadership. When you go after the leadership, yes, you kill the leader and he's immediately replaced, but he's usually replaced with someone not quite as talented, not quite as capable. So, we're lessening their overall leadership capabilities and also their field capabilities by knocking out a lot of logistics. I have to say, the air campaign has really stepped up both on the U.S. side and the Russians have also started to bomb Raqqah. Of course, the Russians just dump gravity bombs and it's kind of a lot of collateral damage.</s>WHITFIELD: Well, there continues to be that kind of criticism of just air strikes that it's less precise. But, is that, you know, the best measure at this juncture there?</s>FRANCONA: Well, our strikes are becoming more and more precise. And I think we're trying to limit the collateral damage. Because, once you start bombing in Raqqah, and Raqqah is a very compact dense city. So, you've got to know what you're going. We've even started using the smaller diameter bomb. It was developed just for this kind of a fight. Whereas, the Russians, when they bomb, they've been using the high- altitude bombers and just opening up the bomb bay and just letting it lose. Much akin to the carpet bombing we did in Vietnam.</s>WHITFIELD: Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona, always good to see you. Thanks so much. All right, coming up, it's math versus momentum when it comes to Bernie Sanders campaign. But, how steep is the senator's uphill climb when it comes to pledged delegates? The story behind the numbers, next.