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Local residents stated that many ISIL militants had abandoned the city and traveled to [[Deir ez-Zor]], in anticipation of the impending attack on their capital. It is speculated that the group will assault the city, currently held by the Syrian Government forces, in an effort to make a last stand.<ref name="auto"/>
Local residents stated that many ISIL militants had abandoned the city and traveled to [[Deir ez-Zor]], in anticipation of the impending attack on their capital. It is speculated that the group will assault the city, currently held by the Syrian Government forces, in an effort to make a last stand.<ref name="auto"/>


It was reported by [[Agence France-Presse|AFP]] that in an US-led airstrike, 21 civilians were killed while attempting to flee Raqqa by [[dinghy]] on the [[Euphrates River]]. The event was also reported by [[Al Jazeera]], but with uncertainty as to who carried out the bombing.<ref name="afp-en-20170605">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20170605225824/https://www.afp.com/en Beirut (AFP) - 06/05/2017 - 22:50]" (Top site flash "US-led strike kills 21 civilians fleeing Syria's Raqa"), afp.com, 5 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017. Archived on the [[Internet Archive]].</ref><ref name="afp-20170605">"[https://www.afp.com/fr/infos/335/syrie-21-civils-fuyant-raqa-tues-dans-une-frappe-de-la-coalition Syrie : 21 civils fuyant Raqa tués dans une frappe de la coalition]"{{dead link|date=June 2017}} {{fr}}, afp.com, 5 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.</ref><ref name="newsweek-20170606">Jack Moore. "[http://www.newsweek.com/us-coalition-kills-21-civilians-raqqa-raid-forces-breach-isis-capital-621461 U.S.-Led Coalition Airstrike Kills 21 Civilians as Forces Breach ISIS Capital Raqqa, Monitors Say]", newsweek.com, 6 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.</ref><ref name="aljazeera-201706">"[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/06/sdf-launch-major-offensive-capture-isil-held-raqqa-170606072328034.html SDF launch major offensive to capture ISIL-held Raqqa]", aljazeera.com, June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.</ref><ref name="svd-20170609">[[Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå]]. "[https://www.svd.se/usa-ledd-flygrad-kravde-20-civila-liv USA-ledd flygräd krävde 20 civila liv]" {{sv}}, ''[[Svenska Dagbladet]]'', 5 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017. (N.b. the headline reads "20 civilians" while the article reads "at least 21 civilians".)</ref>
It was reported by [[Agence France-Presse|AFP]] that in an US-led airstrike, 21 civilians were killed while attempting to flee Raqqa by [[dinghy]] on the [[Euphrates River]]. The event was also reported by [[Al Jazeera]], but with uncertainty as to who carried out the bombing.<ref name="afp-en-20170605">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20170605225824/https://www.afp.com/en Beirut (AFP) - 06/05/2017 - 22:50]" (Top site flash "US-led strike kills 21 civilians fleeing Syria's Raqa"), afp.com, 5 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017. Archived on the [[Internet Archive]].</ref><ref name="afp-20170605">"[https://www.afp.com/fr/infos/335/syrie-21-civils-fuyant-raqa-tues-dans-une-frappe-de-la-coalition Syrie : 21 civils fuyant Raqa tués dans une frappe de la coalition]" {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606023908/https://www.afp.com/fr/infos/335/syrie-21-civils-fuyant-raqa-tues-dans-une-frappe-de-la-coalition |date=2017-06-06 }} {{fr}}, afp.com, 5 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.</ref><ref name="newsweek-20170606">Jack Moore. "[http://www.newsweek.com/us-coalition-kills-21-civilians-raqqa-raid-forces-breach-isis-capital-621461 U.S.-Led Coalition Airstrike Kills 21 Civilians as Forces Breach ISIS Capital Raqqa, Monitors Say]", newsweek.com, 6 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.</ref><ref name="aljazeera-201706">"[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/06/sdf-launch-major-offensive-capture-isil-held-raqqa-170606072328034.html SDF launch major offensive to capture ISIL-held Raqqa]", aljazeera.com, June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.</ref><ref name="svd-20170609">[[Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå]]. "[https://www.svd.se/usa-ledd-flygrad-kravde-20-civila-liv USA-ledd flygräd krävde 20 civila liv]" {{sv}}, ''[[Svenska Dagbladet]]'', 5 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017. (N.b. the headline reads "20 civilians" while the article reads "at least 21 civilians".)</ref>


==Timeline of the battle==
==Timeline of the battle==

Revision as of 05:14, 16 July 2017

Battle of Raqqa (2017)
Part of the Raqqa campaign (2016–present), the Syrian Civil War, the American-led intervention in Syria, and the Syrian Kurdish–Islamist conflict (2013–present)

Map of the situation in Raqqa city, as of October 18, 2017
  SDF control
  ISIL control
Date6 June 2017 – ongoing
(7 years, 3 months, 1 week and 1 day)
Location
Raqqa, Raqqa Governorate, Syria
Status

Ongoing

  • The SDF captures 35% of Raqqa city and a military base[9][10] by 12 July
  • The SDF completely encircles Raqqa city on 24 June
  • The SDF breaches the walls of the fortified old city on 4 July
Belligerents

Syrian Democratic Forces
Self Defence Forces (HXP)[1]
Leftist volunteers[a]
Sinjar Resistance Units[5]
Êzîdxan Women's Units[5]
CJTF–OIR

 Islamic State
Commanders and leaders
Rojda Felat[11]
(SDF general command member and YPJ commander)
Clara Raqqa[12][13]
(high-ranking YPJ commander)
Col. Talal Silo[1][14]
(SDF general command spokesperson)
Muhammad Mustafa "Abu Adel"[15]
(Northern Sun Battalion commander)
Abu Imad[16][17]
(Elite Forces commander)
Abu Raad Bakary[18]
(Tribal Forces commander)		 Islamic State Abu Khattab al-Tunisi †[19]
(ISIL high command member and commander of eastern Raqqa)
Units involved

Syrian Democratic Forces[1][20]

United States United States Armed Forces

Islamic State Military of ISIL

Strength
30,000–40,000[23] 3,000–5,000[24][23]
Casualties and losses
117–164 killed[25][26] 311–400 killed[23][27]
224+ civilians killed[27]
Thousands of civilians displaced[28]

The Battle of Raqqa is the fifth and final phase of the Raqqa campaign launched by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) de facto capital in the city of Raqqa. The battle began on 6 June 2017, and is being supported by airstrikes and ground troops from the US-led coalition.[14] The operation was named the "Great Battle" by the SDF.[29] The battle is running concurrently with the Battle of Mosul as part of an effort by the CJTF–OIR and its allies to strip ISIL of its regional centers of power, and to dismantle it as an organization controlling territory.[30]

Background

Main article: Raqqa campaign (2016–present)
See also: Battle of Tabqa (2017) and Battle of Raqqa (March 2013)

In 2015, ISIL began to fortify the city and its surroundings with bunkers and a network of tunnels.[31]

By June 2017, Raqqa remained the only major Syrian city fully under ISIL control and was, therefore, its effective center of operations. With a large number of foreign fighters, Raqqa has been a planning center for terrorist attacks against European cities.[32] The Raqqa campaign was launched by the SDF on 6 November 2016 in an effort to capture the city, and it has resulted in the SDF capturing a large amount of territory in the Raqqa Governorate from ISIL, including the city of al-Thawrah, and the infrastructure at Tabqa Dam, and Baath Dam.

As many as 500 US special forces are operating on the ground in northern Syria in support of the Raqqa campaign. The US and other coalition members are supplying heavy weapons, intelligence collection, communications support and other assistance to the SDF as part of their intervention in the conflict.[32] The battle began in the wake of a tumultuous period for the coalition, as internal pressures had been elevated by the Qatar diplomatic crisis, which had seen diplomatic relations between Qatar and other coalition members severed, and was publicly supported by President Donald Trump.[33][34]

Local residents stated that many ISIL militants had abandoned the city and traveled to Deir ez-Zor, in anticipation of the impending attack on their capital. It is speculated that the group will assault the city, currently held by the Syrian Government forces, in an effort to make a last stand.[33]

It was reported by AFP that in an US-led airstrike, 21 civilians were killed while attempting to flee Raqqa by dinghy on the Euphrates River. The event was also reported by Al Jazeera, but with uncertainty as to who carried out the bombing.[35][36][37][38][39]

Timeline of the battle

June: Entering Raqqa

An SDF MRAP and pickup truck in Raqqa

The United States Air Force conducted heavy airstrikes on Raqqa the day before the battle.[40] The battle was officially launched by the SDF in the dawn of 6 June 2017. The offensive came from Raqqa's north, east, and west. Supported by US airstrikes, the SDF attacked the former base of the 17th Division north of Raqqa and the Mashlab district in the southeastern part of the city.[14] By the end of the day, the SDF captured more than half of Mashlab district and also attacked the Andalus district in the northwest.[11] The SDF also captured the village of al-Jazra.[41]

On 7 June, the SDF captured a ruined fortress on the edge of the city, and a U.S. coalition official said the attack was set to accelerate.[42] On the same day, the SDF captured Tell Harqal districts of the city.[43]

Brett H. McGurk, the special envoy with responsibility over the US-led military coalition, claimed that the fighting in the city would be accelerated by the failures of ISIL in the Battle of Mosul, and claimed that the forces were prepared for a "difficult and very long-term battle".[44]

The SDF entered the 17th Division base and the nearby sugar plant on 8 June,[45] but were eventually forced to retreat, due to casualties as a result of persistent ISIL resistance.[46]

The following night, Coalition airplanes heavily struck the city, killing 23 civilians. At the same time the SDF, backed by special forces, were close to capturing the entire al-Mashlab neighborhood.[47] Later that day, the SDF entered Sabahiyah neighborhood from the western axis[48] and captured the remaining parts of the al-Mashlab neighborhood within hours.[49][50][51]

On 10 June, SDF forces entered the Roman suburb and were locked "in fierce fighting", while they were reinforcing the western half of Al-Sabahiya.[51] The International Coalition itself stated that they had destroyed numerous targets in Raqqa between 7-9 June; a minefield, 11 fighting positions, four vehicles, three ISIL headquarters, two VBIED's and an ISIL-held building.[52] At the end of the day, SDF forces managed to take control over Harqaliya Suburb.[53] During the battle, US forces reportedly used white phosphorus munitions several times while thousands of civilians remained in Raqqa. A spokesman for the U.S. military did not confirm or deny the allegation.[54]

SDF fighters walk through a destroyed area in the suburbs of Raqqa.

By 11 June, 79 civilians reportedly had been killed.[55] The SDF forces captured "wide parts" of the Roman suburb and advanced into al-Sinaa neighborhood and al-Hal Market near the northern banks of the Euphrates River.[56] ISIL fighters attacked the sugar plant that the SDF had captured three days earlier in the northern part of the city.[57]

On 12 June, SDF forces began the process of capturing al-Sinaa and al-Hattin neighborhoods ,along with the al-Sinaa industrial zone.[58][58] SDF forces captured Sahil village southwest of Raqqa after clashes between the SDF and ISIL broke out and lasted until the next morning.[59]

On 14 June, SDF forces entered the al-Berid neighborhood in the western part of Raqqa, following intense fighting in which an ISIL suicide bomber was killed.[60]

On 15 June, SDF forces captured the al-Sinaa neighborhood and entered the Batani neighborhood.[61] Several CJTF-OIR troops were injured by a VBIED planted by ISIL in al-Sinaa neighborhood.[62]

On 18 June, SDF forces captured Kasrat Sheyh Juma village, to the south of Raqqa.[63] The Kurdish-led forces also captured a greenhouse in the south of the city[64] as well as Batani neighborhood in the east.[65][66]

On 19 June, ISIL counter-attacked at the old city walls and managed to encircle a group of SDF fighters, among them members of the Elite Forces (SEF).[67] The Elite Forces then attempted to break the encirclement of their comrades, shooting down an ISIL bombing drone,[68] breaking through to their fifteen besieged fighters at the Bab Baghdad gate of the old city. In the course of this operation, the SEF lost its first member in the battle for Raqqah city and its fourth in the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation.[69] On the next day, the SDF, supported by especially heavy airstrikes, continued to advance in northwestern Raqqa amid "desperate" attempts of ISIL to stop their progress.[70] An ISIL counter-attack on the Batani district was repelled.[71] On 23 June, the SDF began an assault on the Qadisiya district, which led to fierce fighting in the area.[72] On the next day, the SDF completely encircled and besieged Raqqa city, trapping about 4,000 ISIL militants inside.[73]

The United States Marine Corps provide fire support to the SDF during the battle.

By 25 June, the SDF had captured the western Qadisiya district, whereupon ISIL launched a major counter-attack, leading to extremely heavy fighting.[74] On the following day, however, the SDF finally captured all of Qadisiya, making it the sixth district in the city under SDF control.[72][75] In response, ISIL launched multiple counter-attacks in the city[76] and on the Euphrates' southern bank, though these failed. By the end of the day, the SDF had also taken control of al-Farkha village to Raqqa's southwest.[77] CJTF–OIR spokesman Ryan Dillon noted that the resistance of ISIL increased as the SDF further advanced into the city.[78]

On 27 June, the SDF launched an attack against the old city which was repelled by ISIL, though they succeeded in capturing the village of al-Ghota south of Raqqa.[79][80]

On 28 June, SDF forces clashed with ISIL militants near a kindergarten in Ar-Ruda neighborhood in eastern Raqqa, killing 8 ISIL fighters.[81] SDF forces also entered al-Nahda neighborhood in western Raqqa where they clashed heavily with ISIL militants, which resulted in 19 ISIL fighters being killed.[82] In course of the next two days, the SDF cut off all remaining escape routes for ISIL from Raqqa.[83][84] Clashes between the SDF and ISIL militants also began in al-Yarmouk and Huteen neighborhoods in western Raqqa,[85] while the SDF captured another village south of the city.[86] Nevertheless, a major ISIL counter-attack on 30 June, spearheaded by numerous VBIEDs, retook the al-Sinaa neighborhood[87][88] after 350 SDF fighters who were part of a unidentified Free Syrian Army (FSA) unit abandoned their posts and fled.[16]

July: Siege of Raqqa

In course of 1-2 July, SDF fighters cleared the al-Hal market in eastern Raqqa of ISIL militants, while the SDF continued to advance in other neighborhoods of city with the help of heavy CJTF–OIR airstrikes. Ratla, a village southeast of the city also fell to the SDF.[89][90] The SDF entered the Hashim Bin al-Melek neighborhood in southern Raqqa and the al-Yarmouk neighborhood in the west on 3 July.[91][92] In the night of 3-4 July, a CJTF–OIR precision airstrike destroyed a 25-meter long section of the medieval wall surrounding Raqqa's old city. This was done so that the SDF could finally enter the heavily fortified old city, while at the same time preserving most of the wall. The SDF consequently advanced into the old city, capturing the Palace of the Maidens, albeit encountering heavy resistance. Meanwhile, the US-backed forces continued to make progress in other parts of Raqqa, reportedly capturing half of the Hashim Bin al-Melek neighborhood,[93][94][95] while a major assault by the Elite Forces managed to retake the al-Sinaa neighborhood from ISIL.[96] Some less disciplined Elite Forces units, however, were demoralised by the heavy fighting and retreated from the city against the orders of the SDF command and their own superiors and comrades.[16][b] Nevertheless, the other Elite Forces units remained at the frontlines.[97]

Heavy fighting in the old city continued through the next two days, and the SDF advances were slow despite heavy airstrikes in their support. Intense ISIL counter-attacks inside Raqqa and south of the city at Ratla were mostly repelled, though ISIS militants managed to retake a part of the al-Hal market. Especially intense clashes also took place in the western city, mostly for the al-Bareed neighborhood, as both sides launched repeated attacks in attempts to gain territory.[97][98][99] By 6 July, pro-SDF media claimed that the coalition forces were making progress in the west, and that the ISIL defenses there showed signs of breaking.[100] The international coalition also sent further weapons, supplies and reinforcements to Raqqa. Meanwhile, ISIL put up a bounty of approximately $4,000 USD for every US soldier or foreign SDF fighter killed.[101] Over the next days, the fierce fighting in Raqqa continued, with the SDF capturing the Harun al-Rashid Castle in the old city[102] and the al-Mazarie Square in west.[103] By 10 July, the battle in Raqqa was described as increasingly "desperate house-to-house fight" without frontlines, as ISIL fighters holed up in small pockets of resistance which proved to be only extremely difficult to clear out for the often not adequately armed SDF fighters. ISIL suicide attacks also hampered the advance of the coalition forces.[104]

The SDF progress was also reportedly hindred by disputes within the SDF[104] and the distrust of the locals toward the anti-ISIL coalition. Due to ISIL propaganda and long-standing distrust between the ethnic groups in Syria, many of Raqqa's Arabs are wary of the Kurdish forces within the SDF.[105] On 8 July, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Arab Elite Forces had withdrawn from Raqqa as result of disputes within the SDF and their sometimes inferior battlefield performance;[105][106][107] the SDF however denied this claim as baseless rumours, and said that the Elite Forces were still involved in the operation.[108] Nevertheless, the reports of the Elite Forces' purported retreat furthered the distrust of the local population toward the SDF.[105]

Whereas progress in Raqqa city proved slow, the SDF made some progress south of the Euphrates on 10 and 11 July, capturing two villages,[109][110] including al-Ukeirshi which had served as major military base for ISIL.[111]

On 13 July, it was reported that SDF forces had captured more than half of Raqqa's old city.[112]

Notes

  1. ^ Most leftist foreign volunteers fight as part of the YPG,[2] though some have also formed an independent unit, the Antifascist International Tabur,[3] or joined the International Freedom Battalion. The latter is a larger unit, mostly composed of Kurdish and Turkish communists.[4]
  2. ^ While they are simply said to be members of unspecified FSA units in the article, the retreating fighters can be identified in the photographs[16] as members of the Elite Forces due to their arm patches.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Great War for the liberation of Raqqa begins". Hawar News Agency. 6 June 2017.
  2. ^ Harp (2017), pp. 43–49.
  3. ^ Harp (2017), p. 49.
  4. ^ Sinan Deniz (13 November 2016). "'Raqqa's fall will bring the end of Erdoğan'". ANF News. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Şengal's YJŞ: heading for al-Raqqa to liberate Yazidi women". Hawar News Agency. 3 July 2017.
  6. ^ Sirwan Kajjo (21 December 2016). "Kurdish-Arab Forces in Syria Make Gains in Raqqa Province". Voice of America.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Volkmar Kabisch; Reiko Pinkert (29 March 2017). "Zivile Opfer in Syrien. Bundeswehr in verheerenden Luftschlag involviert". Tagesschau (Germany) (in German). Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  9. ^ "Battle for ISIS' capital heats up as Kurdish troops secure huge gains in Raqqa". 13 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  10. ^ “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces control about 35% of Al-Raqqah city’s area and prepare for the conclusive battle
  11. ^ a b "US-backed fighters move into ISIS stronghold Raqqa for the first time". Agence France-Presse. 6 June 2017.
  12. ^ "The commander Clara: 4 stages achieved their aims". Hawar News Agency. 7 June 2017.
  13. ^ Mahmoud Bali (12 June 1017). "Female Commander Leads Anti-IS Fighters in Hometown Raqqa". Voice of America.
  14. ^ a b c "U.S.-backed Syrian force starts battle to capture Raqqa from Islamic State". Reuters. 6 June 2017.
  15. ^ Mohammad Abdulssattar Ibrahim; Maria Nelson (6 June 2017). "Syrian Democratic Forces break through Raqqa city limits for first time, capture neighborhoods". Syria Direct. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  16. ^ a b c d Molly Hennessy-Fiske (4 July 2017). "A schism among Syrian rebel fighters threatens to slow down the battle against Islamic State". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  17. ^ a b "The Elite Teams are joining the Wrath of Euphrates". Hawar News Agency. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  18. ^ "Tribal forces: Our goal is liberation tenderness and all Syrian territory from terrorism". Hawar News Agency. 19 June 2017.
  19. ^ Dilber Issa (12 June 2017). "Top ISIS military official killed by SDF fire in Raqqa city". ARA News. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  20. ^ "SDF announces the launch of 'Great Battle' for Raqqa". Firat News Agency. 6 June 2017.
  21. ^ Mamosta, Afarin (8 June 2017). "YPG Special Forces (YAT) preparing for major operation inside #Raqqa city. Morale high.pic.twitter.com/VDBFywO4Fu".
  22. ^ "Dissident assured on IS' collapse, mass fleeing situations". Hawar News Agency. 17 June 1017.
  23. ^ a b c Micallef, Joseph V. "Sitrep Raqqa: The Geopolitics of Eastern Syria".
  24. ^ Patrick Cockburn (6 June 2017). "Battle to liberate Raqqa from Isis 'will be over quicker than Mosul'". The Independent.
  25. ^ After 35 days of the Grand Battle of Al-Raqqah …. A rebel faction withdraws from its positions in the Old City and east of Al-Raqqah following a dispute with Syria Democratic Forces
  26. ^ Rival groups clash in Syria's rebel-packed Idlib
  27. ^ a b "'US-led strikes killed 224 civilians since allies entered Raqa'". Al Monitor.
  28. ^ "Hundreds flee battles in Raqqa". Al Monitor.
  29. ^ "SDF enter east Raqqa in 'Great Battle' for ISIS stronghold". Rudaw. 6 June 2017.
  30. ^ "Raqqa: Syrian Kurdish-led forces launch offensive on IS 'capital'". 6 June 2017 – via www.bbc.com.
  31. ^ "IS begins to fortify Raqqa ahead of international strikes on Syria". www.news.com.au. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  32. ^ a b CNN, Tim Lister. "Battle for Raqqa: 7 things you need to know". CNN. Retrieved 2017-06-11. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  33. ^ a b Barnard, Anne (6 June 2017). "U.S.-Backed Forces Begin Assault on Raqqa, ISIS Stronghold in Syria" – via NYTimes.com.
  34. ^ Landler, Mark (6 June 2017). "Trump Takes Credit for Saudi Move Against Qatar, a U.S. Military Partner" – via NYTimes.com.
  35. ^ "Beirut (AFP) - 06/05/2017 - 22:50" (Top site flash "US-led strike kills 21 civilians fleeing Syria's Raqa"), afp.com, 5 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017. Archived on the Internet Archive.
  36. ^ "Syrie : 21 civils fuyant Raqa tués dans une frappe de la coalition" Archived 2017-06-06 at the Wayback Machine Template:Fr, afp.com, 5 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  37. ^ Jack Moore. "U.S.-Led Coalition Airstrike Kills 21 Civilians as Forces Breach ISIS Capital Raqqa, Monitors Say", newsweek.com, 6 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  38. ^ "SDF launch major offensive to capture ISIL-held Raqqa", aljazeera.com, June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  39. ^ Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå. "USA-ledd flygräd krävde 20 civila liv" Template:Sv, Svenska Dagbladet, 5 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017. (N.b. the headline reads "20 civilians" while the article reads "at least 21 civilians".)
  40. ^ "The Latest: US-backed Syrian force attacks IS-held Raqqa". The Associated Press
  41. ^ "Explosives found in al-Jazra liberated village". ANHA. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  42. ^ Barrington, Lisa. "U.S.-backed forces seize Raqqa ruins; U.N. sees 'dire' situation".
  43. ^ Hozan Mamo (8 June 2017). "SDF captures first neighbourhood in Raqqa city after launch of major anti-ISIS operation". ARA News.
  44. ^ "Raqqa fight 'will accelerate as IS loses grip on Mosul' – Independent.ie".
  45. ^ News, ANF. "SDF takes control of the 17th Division Base north of Raqqa". ANF News. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  46. ^ "Repeated attempts by the "Euphrates Wrath" Operation Forces and the American forces to control the Division 17 and the sugar factory and preparations for an offensive on the second neighbourhood in Al-Raqqah city and advancement at its western outskirts". SOHR.
  47. ^ "International Coalition's warplanes kill an activist of the Syrian Observatory and 22 civilians in Al-Raqqah and the "Euphrates Wrath" Operation Forces control the first neighbourhood almost completely". SOHR.
  48. ^ "SDF fighter enter another neighborhood in al-Raqqa city". ANHA.
  49. ^ News, ANF. "SDF liberates Sabahiyah neighborhood west of Raqqa". ANF News. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  50. ^ "SDF liberates al-Raqqa's first neighborhood". ANHA.
  51. ^ a b "US-backed force pierces into IS-held Raqqa from west". The Daily Star Lebanon.
  52. ^ "Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve: June 10, 2017 Release # 20170610-01" (PDF).
  53. ^ "After repelling their attack in the Division 17, "Euphrates Wrath" Operation Forces enter the second neighborhood in Al-Raqqah and take control of half of it and attempt to break into the third neighborhood". SOHR.
  54. ^ "U.S.-led forces appear to be using white phosphorus in populated areas in Iraq and Syria". Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
  55. ^ "More casualties raise the death toll to about 80 in the continued shelling on Al-Raqqah city".
  56. ^ "With 6 days of consecutive clashes… the Elite Forces enter the 2nd neighbourhood east of Al-Raqqah and SDF control large parts of the 2nd neighbourhood west of it". SOHR.
  57. ^ "داعش يشن 3 هجمات متزامنة في الرقة". June 10, 2017.
  58. ^ a b Ahmed, Cihan Shekh (11 June 2017). "قواتنا تتقدم في حي الصناعة من الجهة الشرقية وحي حطين من الجهة الغربية".
  59. ^ "SDF liberates Sahil village - ANHA". en.hawarnews.com. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  60. ^ News, ANF. "SDF fighters enter al-Berid neighborhood of Raqqa". ANF News. Retrieved 14 June 2017. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  61. ^ News, ANF. "Sinaa neighborhood east of Raqqa cleared of ISIS". ANF News. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  62. ^ Raqqa24 (2017-06-15). "Many US soldiers wounded due VBIED attack by #Daesh on their location in Sina'a neighborhood eastern side of #Raqqa. #R24". @24Raqqa. Retrieved 2017-06-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  63. ^ vergès, j-c (18 June 2017). "#WrathOfEuphrates violent clashes between #SDF Manbij MC and #ISIS around Kasrat Jumaa,southern Euphrates River,south #Raqqah city.SOHRpic.twitter.com/ngTK7hKVob".
  64. ^ "منبج الحــدث". www.facebook.com.
  65. ^ News, ANF. "SDF liberates a neighborhood west of Raqqa from ISIS". ANF News. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  66. ^ "Kurdish-led forces capture new district in Raqqa city, kill scores of ISIS militants". ARA News. 19 June 2017.
  67. ^ "After the slowdown of the grand battel of Al-Raqqah… ISIS follows the tunnel tactic and besieges a group of fighters of the "Euphrates Wrath" Operation". SOHR. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  68. ^ "Drone loaded with bombs downed in the sky of Al-Raqqah city and the "Islamic State" organization carries out a violent counter-attack at the walls of the old city". SOHR. 2017-06-19. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  69. ^ "Syrian Elite Forces break the siege of their 15 fighters at Bab Baghdad at the outskirts of the old city and lose their fourth fighter in the "Euphrates Wrath" Operation". 2017-06-19. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  70. ^ "In the highest daily death toll since the start of the grand battle of Al-Raqqah… 45 dead from the "Islamic State" organization in the clashes and continued shelling in the city". SOHR. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  71. ^ "Heavy fighting on three fronts of Raqqa". ANF News.
  72. ^ a b "Syrian Democratic Forces make new gains in anti-ISIS campaign, capture another district in Raqqa city". ARA News. 26 June 2017.
  73. ^ "ISIS fully encircled in Raqqa city after latest Kurdish advances". 24 June 2017.
  74. ^ "Clashes in al-Qadisiyah neighborhood". Hawar News Agency. 25 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  75. ^ Chris Tomson (26 June 2017). "ISIS concedes residential district while Kurdish forces cement siege of Raqqa city". al-Masdar News. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  76. ^ "Violent clashes in Al-Raqqah city and the "Islamic State" organization spares no effort to regain control of what it lost". SOHR. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  77. ^ "Continued clashes at the southern banks of the Euphrates, south of Al-Raqqah city". SOHR. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  78. ^ "ISIS resistance increasing in Raqqa: Coalition spokesman". ARA News. 26 June 2017.
  79. ^ "Al-Ghota village liberated south of al-Raqqa". Hawar News Agency. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  80. ^ "SDF carry out a violent attack at the walls of the old city of Al-Raqqah and advance at the southern banks of the Euphrates River". SOHR. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  81. ^ "مقتل 8 مرتزقة بحي الروضة - ANHA". hawarnews.com.
  82. ^ News, ANF. "Raqqa operation: 19 ISIS members killed in al-Nahda neighborhood". ANF News. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  83. ^ "الرقة محاصرة من الجهات الأربع - ANHA". www.hawarnews.com.
  84. ^ "Isis's last escape route from Raqqa 'cut off'". 29 June 2017.
  85. ^ "Another defense line of IS broken - ANHA". en.hawarnews.com.
  86. ^ "Al-Raqqa campaign: Kasrat Afan village liberated". Hawar News Agency. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  87. ^ "US-backed forces in new attack on ISIS in Syria's Raqqa". Zaman al-Wasl. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  88. ^ Chris Tomson (1 July 2017). "Kurdish troops withdraw from east Raqqa suburb as ISIS launches fresh counter-offensive". al-Masdar News. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  89. ^ "Souq al-Hal, strategic buildings liberated by SDF". Hawar News Agency. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  90. ^ "A new front against ISIS in Al-Raqqah city". SOHR. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  91. ^ "SDF enters 2 neighborhoods in al-Raqqa". Hawar News Agency. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  92. ^ "SDF advance towards al-Raqqa center". Hawar News Agency. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  93. ^ "SDF entered Old Al-Raqqa neighborhood". Hawar News Agency. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  94. ^ Jamie Crawford; Mohammed Tawfeeq; Tim Lister (4 July 2017). "Raqqa: US-backed forces breach Old City's wall". CNN. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  95. ^ "US-backed forces breach wall in Syria ISIS stronghold Raqqa". Zaman al-Wasl. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  96. ^ "Continued battles in areas in Al-Raqqah city as part of the Grand Battle of Al-Raqqah". SOHR. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  97. ^ a b "The "Euphrates Wrath" Operation Forces move 200 meters deeper into the Old City and 30 rebels killed within hours of attacks and clashes". SOHR. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  98. ^ "Violent battles continue in Al-Raqqah city, ISIS carries out counter attacks and the "Euphrates Wrath" Operation Forces take control of more buildings". SOHR. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  99. ^ "Al-Raqqa campaign: a road liberated, 72 mercenaries killed". Hawar News Agency. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  100. ^ "Footage from the IS-held neighborhoods in al-Raqqa". Hawar News Agency. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  101. ^ "Massive military reinforcements from the Coalition arrive to the Syria Democratic Forces and head to take part in the grand battle of Al-Raqqah". SOHR. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  102. ^ "Harun al-Rashid Castle liberated by SDF without damage". Hawar News Agency. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  103. ^ "SDF liberates al-Mazarie Square". Hawar News Agency. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  104. ^ a b Jamie Dettmer (10 July 2017). "Battle to Retake Raqqa a Desperate House-to-House Fight". Voice of America. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  105. ^ a b c Jamie Dettmer (111 July 2017). "Deficit of Trust Between Arabs, Kurds Complicates Raqqa Battle". Voice of America. Retrieved 11 July 2017. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  106. ^ "Massive military reinforcements from the Coalition arrive to the Syria Democratic Forces and head to take part in the grand battle of Al-Raqqah". SOHR. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  107. ^ "Some Arab Units Withdrew From Raqqa Battle After Disagreements With SDF – SOHR". SouthFront. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  108. ^ "SDF deny the withdrawal of elite forces from the battle to liberate Al-Raqqa". 24e (in Arabic). 9 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  109. ^ "Renewed violent clashes accompanied by a bombing south of the Euphrates River in the southern countryside of Al-Raqqah". SOHR. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  110. ^ "The "Islamic State" organization loses the village where more than 200 of its members were executed southeast of Al-Raqqah city". SOHR. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  111. ^ "US backed Syrian militias capture town south of Raqqa". Middle East Eye. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  112. ^ https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coalition-forces-capture-half-of-old-raqqa-from-isis-tpzsglrfq
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