The Tabqa dam on the Euphrates River, 40 kilometres (25 miles) upstream from Raqa city, is also the target of a separate offensive launched by US-backed Kurdish-led forces advancing from the north late last month.
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The Syrian government has had no presence in Raqqa since August 2014, when Islamic State captured the Tabqa air base and killed scores of government soldiers.
Video shows army vehicles, including tanks and missile launchers, taking positions on Thursday after claiming victory over IS militants at the Zakiyah Crossroad, a strategic area at the border between Hama and Raqqa provinces.
The Syrian army has entered the province of Raqqa during a Russian-backed offensive against Islamic State, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Heavy Russian air strikes hit Islamic State-held territory in eastern areas of Syria’s Hama province, near the boundary of Raqqa province, yesterday and the army reached the edge of the province.
Syrian forces, backed by Russian airstrikes, have launched their largest offensive against Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) since retaking the historic city of Palmyra in March.
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 militants have begun a counter offensive against Syrian army positions southwest of Aleppo, according to the Interfax news agency citing a Russian monitoring centre.
A fighter of the Syria Democratic Forces mans an anti-aircraft weapon in the southern rural area of Manbij, in Aleppo Governorate, Syria May 31, 2016.
Troops with the US -backed, predominantly Kurdish, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) advanced closer to Manbij Saturday.
Halula: US-backed fighters advanced Sunday to within five kilometres (three miles) of the Islamic State group’s stronghold of Manbij in northern Syria, threatening a crucial supply link for the jihadists.
The army first pushed into Raqqa Saturday.
The United Nations says at least 20,000 civilians have fled the fighting around Manbij.
The Civil Defense, a first responder group that operates in rebel-held areas, reported 50 airstrikes in Aleppo on Sunday. “There is progress from Athriya on two fronts but the coming direction is not set”, the source said.
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The Observatory, which relies on a network of activists inside Syria, said rebel fire on government-held areas killed 24 civilians in Aleppo on Saturday.
