The first SDF operation in which Hussam became involved was the campaign to capture Raqqa from ISIL. In May 2017, he led the negotiations with Jabhat Thuwar al-Raqqa to get them to join the Raqqa campaign. After promising the unit's leadership "that its role [in post-conquest Raqqa] will be essential", the group agreed to return to the frontlines. Hussam also attended a meeting in Mansura between local tribal sheikhs and representatives of the Raqqa Civil Council as well as the Syrian Democratic Council in August, during which he said that the Assad government "had no place" in Raqqa anymore.