The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Coalition warplanes commit a massacre in a village east of Al-Raqqah and more than 800 civilians and fighters are killed in about 45 days of the grand battle of Al-Raqqah

International Coalition warplanes have stepped up their airstrikes within the past 48 hours, targeting Al-Raqqah city and the southern banks of the Euphrates River in the eastern countryside of the city, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that the airstrikes targeted Zur Shammar and Ma’adan area and other areas at the southern banks of the river, which caused a large number of casualties and wounded, and cross-sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory the airstrikes have caused a massacre of 15 civilians including 3 children under the age of eighteen years and 4 female citizens over the age of eighteen, and the death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in critical situation.

Also the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has documented more civilian casualties since the start of the grand battle  of Al-Raqqah, where’s it rose to at least 256 including an SOHR activist, the number of Syrian civilians who were documented by the SOHR since the 5th of June 2017 until today the 19th of July 2017. Fatalities included at least 41 children below the age of eighteen and 34 female citizens above eighteen. In addition, airstrikes left hundreds of civilians injured, with various degrees of severity, some of whom had their limbs amputated, some were left with permanent disabilities and some are still in a critical condition, which means that the death toll is still likely to rise. Moreover, the intensive shelling that targeted the city, its surroundings and outskirts destroyed tens of houses and public utilities.

Also 384 ISIS members at least including local commanders and group commanders, were killed as a result of the airstrikes carried out by the International Coalition warplanes, the intensive shelling on Al-Raqqah city and its outskirts, and the military operations carried out by the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces which consist of the Syria Democratic Forces and the Syrian Elite Forces backed by the US Special Forces with the support of the International Coalition warplanes. Confirmed information was also reported about the death of more members and the injury of tens of others.

In addition, the SOHR documented the death of 166 fighters of the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces, including 2 the Syrian Elite Forces and 3 fighters (British, American and Georgian nationals), the rest are from the SDF, which are formed from fighters of YPG and Al-Manbij Military Council, who died in bombings, shelling and clashes with ISIS in Al-Raqqah city and at the southern banks of the Euphrates.