Raqqa campaign (2016–2017)

Northern Raqqa offensive (November 2016)
Part of the Syrian Civil War, the Syrian Kurdish–Islamist conflict (2013–present), and the American-led intervention in Syria
Date 6 November 2016—present Location Raqqa Governorate, Syria Status SDF forces take control of 5 villages near Ayn Issa, advancing 10 kilometers
Belligerents
Syrian Democratic Forces CJTF–OIR	Islamic State
Commanders and leaders
Mahmoud Oqba (Raqqa Revolutionaries Front commander)	Unknown
Units involved
Syrian Democratic Forces People's Protection Units Women's Protection Units Raqqa Revolutionaries Front	Unknown
Strength
30,000

The northern Raqqa offensive is a military operation launched by the Syrian Democratic Forces against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in the Raqqa Governorate, with the goal to the city of Raqqa.

Background

See also: Northern Raqqa offensive (May 2016)

In late October 2016, the United States Secretary of Defense Ash Carter called for an offensive on Raqqa to be concurrent with the Battle of Mosul in Iraq. He stated that the US is 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 does not want the People's Protection Units (YPG) to participate in the planned operation, and instead plans 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.

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 is the only armed group capable of capturing Raqqa in the near future. Fewer coalition troops will be involved than the Battle of Mosul. On 3 November, the commander of the Seljuk Brigade and the SDF spokesman Col. Talal Silo rejected the participation of Turkey in the operation.

The offensive

The SDF officially announced the start of the operation on 6 November in the village of Ayn Issa. On the same day, the SDF captured the small villages of Wahid, Umm Safa, Wasita, Haran, al-Adriyah and Jurah near Ayn Issa, after advancing on IS-positions south and southeast of Ayn Issa .