Violent battles continue in Al-Raqqah city, ISIS carries out counter attacks and the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces take control of more buildings
Al-Raqqah Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: the SOHR learned that violent clashes are still ongoing between the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces on one hand and ISIS on the other in areas in Al-Raqqah city, where clashes are centered in the Old City. Clashes are accompanied by an exchange of shelling between both parties. Meanwhile, the Syria Democratic Forces managed to take control of a number of buildings in several areas in the Old City, in an attempt to move deeper into it. Violent clashes also take place between the SDF on one hand and ISIS on the other in areas at the outskirts of Hisham Ben Abdel Malik neighborhood and Al-Hal Market, south of Al-Raqqah city. Clashes were accompanied by airstrikes carried out by the International Coalition warplanes on areas of clashes and ISIS positions.
In addition, clashes continue between the Syria Democratic Forces backed by the US Special Forces on one hand and ISIS on the other in Al-Bareed neighborhood and in other areas in the western part of the city, in an attempt by both parties to take a step ahead of the other. The SOHR learned that the “Islamic State” organization is carrying out counter attacks using groups of its elements or by means of booby-trapped cars and vehicles targeting positions of the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces in order to force them to retreat and to inflict more casualties on the SDF.
The SOHR published that a new batch of weapons sent by the International Coalition Forces have entered areas controlled by the Syria Democratic Forces, where the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored the entry of tens of trucks carrying weapons and huge military reinforcements, from the Syrian-Iraqi border to areas controlled by the Syria Democratic Forces in Al-Hasaka province and they headed towards Al-Raqqah city, to participate in the grand battle of Al-Raqqah, which aims to expel the “Islamic State” organization out of Al-Raqqah city.
The SOHR also published that the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces, after breaking the first lines of defense of the “Islamic State” organization with the support of the International Coalition and the US Special Forces, managed to move 200 meters deeper into the old city of Al-Raqqah, along the line of contact opposite to Al-Sinaa neighborhood to Bab Baghdad.