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Raqqa campaign (2016–2017)

Coordinates: 35°57′00″N 39°01′00″E / 35.9500°N 39.0167°E / 35.9500; 39.0167
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Not to be confused with Northern Raqqa offensive (May 2016) or Ithriyah-Raqqah offensive (June 2016).
Raqqa offensive (November 2016–present)
Part of the Syrian Civil War,
the Syrian Kurdish–Islamist conflict (2013–present), and
the American-led intervention in Syria

Map showing the SDF advances
Date6 November 2016 – present
(7 years, 11 months, 3 weeks and 6 days)
Location
Raqqa Governorate, Syria
Status

Ongoing

  • SDF captures more than 236 villages, hamlets and strategic hills, two water and power stations[5][6]
  • SDF after latest advances now at distance of 5km from ISIL capital the city of Raqqa[7]
Territorial
changes		 SDF capture more than 3,200 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi) of territory from ISIS during the first and second phase of the offensive[8][9]
Belligerents

Syrian Democratic Forces
Self Defence Forces[1]
Leftist volunteers[2]
CJTF–OIR

 Islamic State
Commanders and leaders

Rojda Felat[10]
(leading YPJ commander and operations chief commander during first phase)[11][12]
Cihan Sheikh Ahmed[13]
(SDF general spokeswoman and YPJ commander)
Diljin Kobani[14]
(YPJ commander)
Kino Gabriel[15]
(MFS commander)
Syrian opposition Fayad Ghanim[16]
(Raqqa Hawks Brigade commander)
Syrian opposition Abu Saleh al-Hindawi[17]
(Raqqa Hawks Brigade commander)
Syrian opposition Abu Wael[18]
(Liwa Ahrar Raqqa commander)
Capt. Abu al-Qasim al-Shammari[a]
(Jabhat Thuwar al-Raqqa commander)
Farhan Abu Asker[20]
(Jabhat Thuwar al-Raqqa commander)
Muhammad Abu Adel[21]
(Northern Sun Battalion chief commander)
Syrian opposition Ahmad Jarba[22]
(Official leader of Elite Forces)
Syrian opposition Muhedi Jayila[23]
(Elite Forces commander)
Bandar al-Humaydi[15]
(Al-Sanadid Forces military chief commander)
Syrian opposition Abu Khawla al-Dairy[24]
(Deir Ezzor Military Council commander)
Col. Talal Silo[25] (SDF spokesman)
Abdul Kader Hevidili[26]
(SDF commander)

United States Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend
(CJTF–OIR commander)

Islamic State Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi[27]
(Leader of ISIL)
Abu Jandal al-Kuwaiti †[28]
(leading ISIL commander for Raqqa defenses, c. 11–26 December)[29]
Abu Saraqeb al-Maghribi[30]
(Head of security in Al-Thawrah)
Abu Jandal al-Masri[30]
(Chief of Information in Raqqa)
Abu Muhammad al-Jazrawi[30]
(Chief of Hisba)
Mahmoud al-Isawi †[31]
(ISIL proganganda chief)
Abd al-Basit al-Iraqi †[32]
(ISIL commander of Middle East external networks)
Zainuri Kamaruddin †[33]
(Katibah Nusantara commander)

For other ISIL leaders, see commanders
Units involved

Syrian Democratic Forces

Self-Defense Forces (HXP)[1]
International Freedom Battalion[2]

Antifascist Internationalist Tabur[42]
United States United States Armed Forces

France French Armed Forces

United Kingdom British Armed Forces

Military of ISIL

Strength

30,000+ SDF fighters[47][48]

  • 25,000 YPG & YPJ fighters (pro-opposition estimate)[49]
  • Syrian opposition 1,000 Raqqa Hawks fighters[50]
  • 150 Northern Sun Battalion fighters[21]
  • Syrian opposition 3,000 Elite Forces fighters[22]
  • 2,000 Al-Sanadid fighters[51]
  • 2,500 local village militiamen[8][c]

500 HXP volunteers[1]

United States 500 American special forces (support role)[53]

8,000+ fighters[54][55] (by May 2016)

Casualties and losses

96 killed[60][d]

1 killed[64]
United States 1 killed[65]

198 killed, 15 armored vehicles lost (ISIL claim)[66]		 445 killed, 18 captured (SDF claim)[67][8]
1 drone destroyed (SDF claim)[45]
62 civilians killed[68]
5,000+ displaced[69]

The Raqqa offensive (codenamed Operation Wrath of Euphrates), is an ongoing military operation launched by the Syrian Democratic Forces against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Raqqa Governorate, with the goal of isolating and eventually capturing the Islamic State's capital city, Ar-Raqqah.

The offensive is concurrent with the Turkish anti-ISIL Battle of al-Bab, the Iraqi Battle of Mosul in Iraq, and the Palmyra offensive launched by ISIL.

Background

See also: Northern Raqqa offensive (May 2016), Battle of Raqqa, and Tell Abyad offensive

In late October 2016, the United States Secretary of Defense Ash Carter called for an offensive on Raqqa to take place concurrent with the Battle of Mosul in Iraq. He stated that the US was cooperating with its allies in order to launch an "isolation operation" around Raqqa. On 26 October, the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the President of the United States Barack Obama and stated that he did not want the People's Protection Units (YPG) to participate in the planned operation, and instead planned to involve the Turkish Armed Forces. The United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon rejected the idea of non-Arab forces taking part in the offensive and demanded a purely Arab force.[70]

On the same day, the commander of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend stressed that the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces was the only armed group capable of capturing Raqqa in the near future. Fewer US-led coalition troops were to be involved than in the Battle of Mosul.[71] On 3 November, the commander of the Seljuk Brigade and SDF spokesman Col. Talal Silo rejected the participation of Turkey in the operation.[72]

Announcement

The SDF officially announced the start of the operation on 6 November in the village of Ayn Issa.[73] The intention was to proceed in two phases, first seizing areas around Raqqa and isolating the city, advancing from three fronts, then taking control of the city itself.[74] The SDF general command called for the international coalition against ISIL to support the operation.[75] In response, Ash Carter welcomed the announcement and emphasized the importance of capturing Raqqa and defeating ISIL, while cautioning that "there is hard work ahead".[76]

The offensive

Phase One: Isolating Raqqa from its northern hinterland

Tal Saman, ISIL headquarters in the northern Raqqa countryside, after being captured by the SDF.

On 6 November, the SDF captured six small villages,[47] including the villages of Wahid, Umm Safa, Wasita, Haran, al-Adriyah and Jurah south and southeast of Ayn Issa.[77] The Islamic State detonated four car bombs on the first day of the offensive.[14]

On 8 November, the SDF reported that they had taken control of 11 villages near Ain Issa. The SDF also claimed that ISIL used several car bombs against their forces.[78] By 11 November, the SDF had captured over a dozen villages and the strategically significant town of Al-Hisbah, which had served as a local headquarters and command center for ISIL.[79] On the next day, the SDF continued to advance against ISIL in the area around Tal Saman and Khnez, bringing the number of captured farms and villages to 26.[80]

As of 14 November, the SDF reported the completion of the initial phase of the operations, stating that 500 km2 has been captured: 34 villages, 31 hamlets and seven strategic hills, along with 167 Islamic State casualties.[15] The SDF had also begun to besiege Tal Saman, the largest village and ISIL headquarters north of Raqqa,[81] while ISIL launched a counter-attack near Salok in the eastern countryside of Al-Raqqah Governorate in order to force the SDF to split its forces and open a new front.[82] On the next day, the SDF advanced into Tal Saman, resulting in a fierce battle with its ISIL defenders.[83] At the same time, the SDF also captured 10 more villages and farms.[84][85] By 19 November, the SDF had fully captured Tal Saman and had driven ISIL completely from the surrounding countryside.[86][87] With this, the first phase of the offensive was considered completed.[88]

Stalemate and preparation for the second phase

A United States Air Force airstrike on an ISIL position in the northern countryside of Raqqa.

The second phase of the offensive aims to enforce a full blockade of the city of Raqqa.[88] On 21 November, the SDF captured two more villages,[89] while ISIL launched a counter-attack near Tal Saman.[90] Over the next days, the SDF attempted to further advance, such as at al-Qalita,[91] but was unable to break through ISIL's defense line south of Tal Saman.[92] On 24 November, a US serviceman died from wounds he suffered when stepping on an improvised explosive device near the town of Ayn Issa, north of Raqqa.[93]

On 25 November, ISIL received reinforcements from Iraq, among them explosive experts and defected Iraqi Army personnel.[94] On the next day, ISIL launched a counter-attack, retaking parts of Qaltah village and a nearby water pump Station, while the SDF managed to advance in the village's vicinity.[95][96] Boubaker Al-Hakim, an ISIL commander who was linked to the Charlie Hebdo shooting, was killed in an American airstrike at Raqqa on 26 November.[97][98]

On 27 November, the SDF announced the offensive's second phase was due to start,[99] though it later was delayed. At least five SDF fighters were killed in renewed clashes north of Raqqa on 29 November.[100] Meanwhile, ISIL suffered from the defection of two senior commanders, who fled from Raqqa to join Jabhat Fateh al-Sham in Idlib.[101] On 4 December, a coalition drone strike in Raqqa killed two ISIL leaders who had helped facilitate the November 2015 Paris attacks and another who was involved in a foiled suicide attack in Belgium in 2015.[97][102] Three days later, co-Chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) Salih Muslim said that the first phase to surround Raqqa was almost over, while a new Arab brigade consisting of more than 1,000 men and women from the al-Raqqa area had joined the SDF as part of the second phase which was slated to be launched on 10 December.[103] More than 1,500 Arab fighters who were trained and equipped by the anti-ISIL coalition joined the SDF for the second phase on its launch day.[39]

Phase Two: Isolation of Raqqa from its western countryside

Initial advances

SDF fighters advance northwest of Raqqa after the start of the offensive's second phase.

SDF launched the second phase on 10 December, with the aim of capturing the northwestern and western countrysides of al-Raqqa, ultimately to reach and secure Tabqa Dam. It was also announced that Arab SDF groups, consisting of the Elite Forces, Jabhat Thuwar al-Raqqa and the newly formed Deir Ezzor Military Council would be taking part. During the first day, the SDF began to advance south of Tishrin Dam and captured al-Kiradi village.[104][105] The United States meanwhile announced that it would send 200 more troops to assist the SDF.[53] On the next day, the SDF reportedly captured seven more villages from ISIL.[106][107] On 12 December, the SDF captured four villages as well as many hamlets south of Tishrin Dam.[108][109][107] The SDF captured five villages during the next two days.[110][111][112] On 15 December, the SDF captured three villages, taking the total number of villages captured by them in the second phase to 20.[113]

Over the next four days, the SDF captured 20 more villages, while finally reaching Lake Assad's shore, thereby cutting off and besieging 54 ISIL-held villages to the west. In response to these territorial losses, ISIL began to carry out more suicide attacks against both the SDF as well as civilian targets within SDF-controlled areas in an attempt to hinder the offensive.[114][115][116][117][118] On 19 December, ISIL launched a counter-attack to regain four villages in the northwestern countryside,[119] but the attack was repelled after a few hours.[120] In the following night, ISIL forces retreated largely unopposed from the besieged 54 villages, leaving them to be captured by the SDF.[121][122] SDF meanwhile went on to declare that they had captured 97 villages overall during the second phase, and had begun to advance against Qal'at Ja'bar.[123]

Battle of Jabar

A YPG BMP, loaded on a truck, being transported to the frontline near Mahmudli on 4 January.

On 21 December, the SDF seized five villages near Qal'at Ja'bar, including Jabar,[122] which served as the main weaponry storage and supply centre for ISIL in the northwestern countryside.[124] The coalition then began to move toward Suwaydiya Saghirah and Suwaydiya Kabir, the last villages before Tabqa Dam.[122][125][126] Even though a ISIL counter-attack managed to retake Jabar village soon after,[127] the SDF attacked again on 23 December, and once again took control of it, while also capturing another village.[128][129] This prompted ISIL to launch yet another counter-attack later that day, which was accompanied by several suicide car bombs.[130][131][132] As result, heavy clashes took place between them and SDF fighters in several villages along the frontline that lasted until early morning of 24 December. The ISIL forces were eventually forced to withdraw after the SDF first shelled and then stormed their positions, whereupon the latter took control of most of Jabar as well as two more villages,[133][134][135] though some ISIL holdouts persisted in Jabar.[124] ISIL was pushed out of the neighboring, strategic village of Eastern Jabar on the next day, bringing SDF within 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) of Tabqa Dam,[136][137] and by 26 December, the SDF had finally fully secured the main Jabar village, with the last ISIL defenders being expelled after heavy fighting.[124] An ISIL counterattack on the village later that day failed,[29][138] with a US airstrike killing Abu Jandal al-Kuwaiti as he commanded the assault. Al-Kuwaiti, also known as Abdulmuhsin al-Zaghelan al-Tarish, was a high-ranking ISIL commander leading the defense of the whole Raqqa region against the SDF.[29][28] Meanwhile, the Amaq News Agency declared that Iman Na'im Tandil (nom de guerre: Abu 'Umar Al-Hindi), one of the few Indian ISIL fighters active in Syria, had also been killed during the fighting near Jabar. The Islamic State's official media wing later also officially paid tribute to Iman.[139]

Battle for Jabar's surroundings and further SDF advances in the north

On 27 December, ISIL launched an attack on the village of Secol in the northern countryside, reportedly breaching the local YPG defences.[140] On the next day, the SDF reportedly captured Hadaj village after two days of heavy fighting, while another ISIL counter-attack against Jabar was repelled.[141] Mahmud al-Isawi, a senior ISIL facilitator who was also a manager of instructions and finances for the group's leaders as well as a provider of propaganda and intelligence support, was killed on 31 December in a coalition airstrike on Raqqa.[142] After three days of heavy fighting, the SDF captured all or most of Mahmudli, the largest town of Al-Jarniyah Nahiyah, on 1 January 2017. ISIL counterattacked later in an attempt to regain the town.[143][144] The SDF leadership said that in the clashes since the launch of the second phase they had captured 110 villages, killed 277 ISIL fighters, and captured 13.[145]

Also on January 1, the SDF resumed its offensive on the northern front, reportedly advancing 6 km south of Tal Saman against ISIL positions.[6][146] The coalition reportedly captured nine more villages in this area in course of the next three days.[147][148][149][150][151] Meanwhile, with the SDF edging closer to Raqqa, ISIL further restricted Internet access, and increased surveillance over Internet users in Raqqa. There were harsh punishments for accessing anti-ISIL websites, with a new special unit within the ISIL's security office searching for offenders. Several online activists in Raqqa were captured and tortured or executed.[152] Another two villages and hamlets were captured by SDF on 5 January.[153]

SDF fighters examine Qal'at Ja'bar. ISIL had built tunnels and weapons depots into the medieval castle.[154]

SDF captured Qal'at Ja'bar (Ja'bar Castle) from ISIL on 6 January.[155][156] Meanwhile, ISIL was reported to have moved its 150 prisoners from Tabqa city due to the offensive.[157] SDF later captured 8 villages and 5 hamlets at the Ayn Issa front.[158] On 7 January, SDF captured 5 villages including the strategic Suwaydiya Gharbi[159][160] and Suwaydiya Saghirah, reaching the outskirts of Tabqa Dam.[161] ISIL however reportedly recaptured Suwaydiya Saghirah by the next day after a counterattack while a local leader of the group was killed in clashes.[162] Meanwhile, ISIL was reported to have withdrawn 150 of its fighters towards Raqqa city.[163] On 9 January, SDF captured another village along with three hamlets.[164]

On 10 January, ISIL launched a large-scale counter-attack at the Jabar frontline and reportedly recaptured several sites;[165] with pro-rebel sources claiming Qal'at Ja'bar and the village of Jabar were among these sites.[166] ISIL consequently released photos of dead SDF fighters, while claiming that over 70 of them had been killed in the counter-attack.[167] Pro-SDF sources meanwhile have denied Qal'at Ja'bar was captured,[168] while SDF was reported to still be in control of Jabar village a few days later.[169]

An ISIL attack on Jib Shair village, trying to resist SDF advances from the north, was repelled on the next day, following which SDF advanced and captured 6 hamlets around it.[170] SDF later announced that their forces advancing from the Ayn Issa front and on the Qadiriya front linked up in Kurmanju village after capturing several villages over the past few days,[171] besieging a large pocket of about 45 villages and 20 hamlets.[172] All of them were captured by the next day, resulting in the alliance gaining about 460 square kilometres (180 sq mi) of land.[173] Another village was captured by SDF on 13 January.[174][175] On 15 January, SDF progressed to Suwaydiya Kabir village,[176] while ISIL launched a large-scale counter-attack against Mahmudli and a nearby village, resulting in clashes within these settlements.[177] The attack was repelled after several hours of fighting.[178] The SDF captured 3 villages during the day,[179] while Suwaydiya Saghirah was also reported to be under its control again.[180] On 17 January 2017, 28 Arab tribes from Al-Raqqah announced their support for the offensive and for the locals to join the SDF.[181][182]

Fighting in the Suwaydiya area and the SDF attack on Al-Tabqa Dam

The SDF attacked Suwaydiya Kabir on the next day, leading to heavy clashes in the village.[183] Meanwhile, it was announced that about 2,500 local fighters had joined the offensive since it began.[184] On 19 January, ISIL launched a counter-attack against Suwaydiya Saghirah, supported by mortars and heavy machine guns, killing or wounding several YPG fighters.[185][186] Despite this, the SDF made further progress on the next day, capturing a village and advancing against many other ISIL-held villages.[187] The SDF again attacked Suwaydiya Kabir on 20 January, reaching the outskirts of the village, and captured it on 22 January after heavy clashes with the support of U.S. special forces.[188][189]

On 23 January, the SDF began to advance on the Tabqa Dam, causing ISIL to open its turbines to raise the Euphrates' water levels, which was seen as an attempt to hinder the progress of the Kurdish-led forces or a scare tactic.[190] Coinciding with this, pro-YPG/SDF sources reported that US special forces and SDF units had launched a raid against Al-Thawrah across the river with unknown results.[191]

Over the next three days, ISIL repeatedly launched fierce counter-attacks against SDF positions in the western and northern countryside.[192][193][194] ISIL managed to retake ground in the area around the dam,[195] however the attack was later repelled.[196]

Preparation for the third phase

An SDF IAG Guardian armoured personnel carrier in February 2017, one of several APCs that were supplied by the United States to the SDF.

On 31 January 2017, the SDF received a number of armoured personnel carriers supplied by the US. The SDF spokesman stated that preparations for a new phase of the operation were continuing and the operation will begin in "a few days". The next phase will reportedly involve capturing the road between Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor.[197] Meanwhile, the leader of the SDF-aligned Syria's Tomorrow Movement and its paramilitary wing, Ahmad Jarba, announced that 3,000 Arab fighters under his command were training with US special forces to be deployed in the battle for Raqqa against ISIL.[22]

In the night of 2–3 February, intense CJTF–OIR airstrikes targeted several bridges in or near Raqqa city, destroying them as well as the local water pipelines, leaving the city without drinking water. Meanwhile, the SDF advanced against the village of Qaltah in the northern countryside,[198] which the coalition had already unsuccessfully attacked in November.[95] ISIL maintenance crews managed to fix the pipelines during 3 February, restoring Raqqa's water supply.[199][200] On 3 February, 251 Arab fighters in Hasaka completed their training and joined the SDF.[201]

Phase Three: Isolating Raqqa from its eastern countryside

On 4 February, the SDF announced the offensive's third phase, aiming at conquering Raqqa's eastern countryside, though operations in the west and north would continue simultaneously.[202] The SDF captured a village and 3 hamlets to the northeast of Raqqa later that day, with clashes being reported at al-Qaltah and Bir Said.[203] On the next day, the Kurdish-led forces captured another 2 villages along with a hamlet and 2 farms, and besieged Bir Said,[204][205] while especially intense airstrike hit several ISIL targets in Al-Thawrah.[206] Bir Said along with another village was eventually captured by the SDF on 6 February.[207][208][209] In addition to these villages, SDF also captured another 5 villages in two fronts.[210] The SDF made further progress, capturing three more villages on 7 February.[211]

As these advances continued, ISIL responded by launching several unsuccessful counter-attacks against Suwaydiya Kabir and other strategic territories captured by SDF.[212][213] On 8 and 9 February, the SDF further advanced at the northern and northeastern frontline, capturing several villages and besieging Mizella, a major strategic ISIL stronghold in the northern countryside. The advance put them within 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) of Raqqa.[214][215][216][217][218] SDF captured Mizella, Mulayhan and Badraniye on next day.[219][220]

Civil administration of SDF captured territory

On 14 November, the SDF's civilian sister institution, the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), started working on the establishment of a civilian administration to run the city of Raqqa after the expulsion of Islamic State. SDC co-chair Îlham Ehmed was quoted saying that "such an administration could provide a good example for democratic change in Raqqa, especially that the city has been for years a de facto capital for the ISIS terrorist group. This accomplishment would be a major change in the overall situation in Syria, and would help the country move towards stability, democratic change. Raqqa will be an example for the whole country."[221]

On 8 December, Col. John Dorrian, the Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman, stated that "a governance structure representative of the local population" similar to that in Manbij is planned for Raqqa.[222] On 10 December, Cihan Shekh Ehmed, the spokesman of the SDF-led operation, said that Raqqa would be run by a local elected civilian council after it was liberated.[39]

ISIL commanders involved in the offensive

  • Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: The self-proclaimed caliph of the Islamic State. He is believed to be still actively leading ISIL, and to be hiding somewhere in Ar-Raqqah city, according to the majority of experts.[27][223]
  • Abu Jandal al-Kuwaiti †: The leading ISIL commander for Raqqa defences from his appointment on 11 December until his death by an airstrike 15 days later.[28][224][29]
  • Abu Saraqeb al-Maghribi: Head of security in Al-Thawrah, appointed around 31 December after his predecessor was arrested by ISIL on corruption charges.[30]
  • Abu Ahmed al-Souri: Chief of Information in Raqqa until he was replaced around 31 December.[30]
  • Abu Jandal al-Masri: Chief of Information in Raqqa, appointed at the personal request of al-Baghdadi around 31 December[30]
  • Abu Muhammad al-Jazrawi: Chief of Hisba police, appointed around 31 December[30]
  • Mahmoud al-Isawi †: ISIL proganganda chief, who handled ISIL's intelligence and propaganda networks, while also overseeing and organizing the instructions and finances for the group's officials. He was killed on 31 December by an airstrike.[31]
  • Abd al-Basit al-Iraqi †: The ISIL commander of Middle East external networks; in this position he was responsible for overseeing various terror attacks and plots against targets in the region, especially Americans, Turkish and European ones. He was also connected to "convoy, reconnaissance, and facilitation extremist travel, finances and weapons in the region". He was killed by an airstrike on 12 November.[32]
  • Abo Sufian al-Orani: † A Tunisian top commander, who oversaw the contacts and coordination between ISIL commanders in Syria and Iraq. He was killed by a drone strike around 8 January.[225]
  • Zainuri Kamaruddin †: Also known as "Abu Talhah", Zainuri Kamaruddin served as one of the leaders of the Malay-speaking unit Katibah Nusantara, and was killed by an airstrike on Raqqa on 13 January.[33][226]
  • Abu Zur al-Tunisi: An ISIL senior commander who deserted to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham in Idlib around 7 December.[101]
  • Bilal al-Shawwash: An ISIL senior commander who deserted to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham in Idlib around 7 December.[101]
  • Boubaker Al-Hakim †: A notable ISIL veteran commander and external operations planner, who was connected to the Charlie Hebdo shooting. He was killed by an airstrike on 26 November.[97]
  • Salah Gourmet †: An ISIL leader and external operations planner, who was killed by an airstrike on 4 December.[97]
  • Sammy Djedou †: An ISIL leader and external operations planner, who was killed by an airstrike on 4 December.[97]
  • Walid Hamman †: An ISIL leader and suicide attack planner, who was killed by an airstrike on 4 December.[97]
  • Abo Hamza Riadiat †: A Jordanian commander who was killed together with al-Orani around 8 January.[225]
  • Unknown emir of al-Fakhikha (POW): A lower-ranking local commander/official, who was arrested by ISIL around 8 January on charges that he might have sold information to the Kurds or CJTF–OIR.[225]
  • A YPJ sniper during the offensive on 13 November 2016.
    A YPJ sniper during the offensive on 13 November 2016.
  • A SDF technical in a village captured from ISIL on 15 November 2016.
    A SDF technical in a village captured from ISIL on 15 November 2016.
  • Refugees return to their hometown of Al-Hisbah after the SDF captured it from ISIL.
    Refugees return to their hometown of Al-Hisbah after the SDF captured it from ISIL.
  • SDF technicals in the northwestern countryside on 12 December 2016.
    SDF technicals in the northwestern countryside on 12 December 2016.
  • Kurdish YPG fighters during the offensive on 24 December 2016.
    Kurdish YPG fighters during the offensive on 24 December 2016.
  • The town of Mahmudli on 4 January 2017, three days after its capture by the SDF.
    The town of Mahmudli on 4 January 2017, three days after its capture by the SDF.
  • SDF fighters in Mahmudli on 4 January 2017.
    SDF fighters in Mahmudli on 4 January 2017.
  • SDF fighters at Qal'at Ja'bar on 10 January 2017.
    SDF fighters at Qal'at Ja'bar on 10 January 2017.
  • SDF fighters in front of Qal'at Ja'bar on 10 January 2017.
    SDF fighters in front of Qal'at Ja'bar on 10 January 2017.
  • A Kurdish fighter fits a SDF flag on a Guardian Armored Personnel Carrier that was supplied by the USA.
    A Kurdish fighter fits a SDF flag on a Guardian Armored Personnel Carrier that was supplied by the USA.
  • A MT-LB of the SDF during the offensive.
    A MT-LB of the SDF during the offensive.

Notes

  1. ^ Abu al-Qasim al-Shammari was reportedly captured by the Raqqa Hawks Brigade during alleged SDF infighting.[19]
  2. ^ It is known that ISIL has used drones during this campaign.[45] ISIL drones are generally operated by the Al Bara’ bin Malik Brigade.[46]
  3. ^ 1,500 volunteers from villages captured by the SDF during phase one;[52] 1,000 volunteers from villages captured by the SDF during phase two[8]
  4. ^ According to SOHR, 8 SDF casualties were Western volunteers: 4 Americans (one of which fought for the MFS), 1 British, 1 Canadian, and 1 German.[61] ARA News, on the other side, reported that only 5 Western volunteers had been killed.[62]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Raqqa offensive (2016–17).

References

  1. ^ a b c J.O (5 February 2017). "Self-defense fighters join Wrath of Euphrates". Hawar News Agency.
  2. ^ a b c d e Sinan Deniz (13 November 2016). "'Raqqa's fall will bring the end of Erdoğan'". ANF News. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  3. ^ a b Sirwan Kajjo (21 December 2016). "Kurdish-Arab Forces in Syria Make Gains in Raqqa Province". Voice of America.
  4. ^ a b Steven Swinford (25 December 2016). "Operation Raqqa: British RAF pilots to switch bombing raids to 'the heart' of Isil". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  5. ^ قوات سوريا الديمقراطية تحرز تقدماً جديداً وترفع إلى 48 عدد القرى والمزارع المسيطر عليها
  6. ^ a b "Wrath of Euphrates progressing, 110 villages liberated till now". Hawar News Agency. 1 January 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  7. ^ Antonopoulos, Paul (10 February 2017). "Video: Kurdish-led forces only 5km from the ISIS capital of Raqqa after rapid offensive".
  8. ^ a b c d e "SDF: 2480 square kilometers liberated during Phase II of Raqqa Campaign". YPG Rojava. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Islamic State replaces Syrian officials by foreign jihadists in Raqqa". First phase: 560 km² captured
  10. ^ "SDF commander: The Ayn Issa front advanced to Raqqa by 10km". Hawar News Agency. 6 November 2016.
  11. ^ Enwer Omar (26 December 2016). "Kurdish female fighters playing key role in battle for Raqqa". ARA News. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
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  13. ^ "Third phase of Raqqa campaign announced". Rudaw. 5 February 2017.
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  159. ^ Helicopters bomb Morek and continuous clashes in the countryside Ain Issa and the Syria Democratic Forces advance in the area
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  161. ^ The Syria Democratic Forces and US Special forces control a village north of al-Tabaqa and reach the outskirts of the strategic Dam of Euphrates
  162. ^ Violent clashes in several areas near the Euphrates dam in the northern countryside of Al-Raqqah
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  175. ^ Clashes in several areas in the countryside of Al-Raqqah and aerial bombing on the countryside of Hama
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35°57′00″N 39°01′00″E / 35.9500°N 39.0167°E / 35.9500; 39.0167

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