A significant retreat by the pro-regime tribal forces in the eastern countryside of Al-Raqqah
Al-Raqqah Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: clashes continue, with a varied pace of violence, between the SDF backed by the US Special Forces on one hand and ISIS on the other in several areas in Al-Raqqah city. Clashes are concentrated in areas in Al-Bareed, Al-Mansour, Al-Rawda and the western Dar’eiya neighborhoods along with other areas at the northwestern outskirts of the Old City. These clashes, which are escalating since yesterday, are accompanied by airstrikes by the International Coalition warplanes on areas of clashes and other areas in the city in addition to an exchange of rocket shelling and booby-tapped vehicles blown up by ISIS. It should be noted that the SOHR published yesterday that the SDF backed by the US Special Forces managed to control about 57 percent of the city of Al-Raqqah since the start of the grand battle of Al-Raqqah on the 5th of June 2017. Such and advancement came after the SDF managed to advance in the Old City and to take control of two quarters at least there after violent clashes with ISIS. Clashes are also still taking place between both parties in the areas in Al-Bareed neighborhood and the western Dar’eiya and other areas at the northwestern outskirts of the Old City. In addition, separate explosions were heard in the city of Al-Raqqah and they are believed to be caused by blowing up one booby trapped vehicle at least by the “Islamic State” organization. The clashes are also accompanied by continuous shelling targeting areas of clashes. More casualties were reported at both sides.
The SOHR documented the death of 7 civilians yesterday as a result of the airstrikes carried out by the International Coalition on areas in Al-Raqqah city yesterday. Thus, the civilian fatalities, documented by the SOHR in Al-Raqqah city and countryside since the 5th of June 2017 till today, the 15th of August, rose to 622, including one SOHR activist, 141 children and 86 women. Specifically, 579 civilians, including at least 133 children below the age of 18 and 80 women above the age of 18, were killed in Al-Raqqah city. In addition, 16 civilians, including 3 children and 4 women, died as a result of raids on Zour Shamr village and another area at the southern banks of the Euphrates in the eastern countryside of Al-Raqqah. Airstrikes also left hundreds of civilians injured, with varied degrees of severity, some of whom had their limbs amputated, some were left with permanent disabilities, and some are still in a critical condition. Thus, the death toll is still likely to rise. Moreover, tens of houses and public utilities were destroyed as a result of the intensive shelling that targeted the city, its surroundings and outskirts. Information was reported about the fall of more martyrs among civilians but the SOHR could not document such cases.
On the other hand, the SOHR documented the death of at least 32 ISIS members yesterday as a result of shelling by the International Coalition warplanes, missile strikes and in clashes with the SDF in several areas in Al-Raqqah city. Thus, the number of fatalities among ISIS members, documented by the SOHR since the start of the Grand Battle of Al-Raqqah on the 5th of June 2017 till today, the 15th of August 2017, rose to 767, including local commanders and group commanders. In addition, tens of others were injured, with varied degrees of severity.
The SOHR also documented the death of 6 members of the SDF yesterday as a result of shelling and in clashes with ISIS in Al-Raqqah city. Thus, casualties among the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces rose to 330, including 4 fighters of American, Georgian and British nationalities, who were killed in bombardments and bombings and during clashes with the “Islamic State” organization in the city of Al-Raqqah and at the southern banks of the Euphrates since the start of the Grand Battle of Al-Raqqah on the 5th of June 2017 till today.
Meanwhile, Al-Raqqah city is still suffering from the lack of a lot of food items and significant decrease in others. Reliable sources confirmed the absence of vegetables and fruits in the city market in addition to the significant shortage in medicines and drinking water and their surging prices. Thus, the civilians still residing in Al-Raqqah depend mainly on grains, rice and legumes, which have been stored by the city citizens or the shops. Moreover, ISIS members are breaking into the shops and seizing its contents, especially clothes shops. In addition, the spirit of resentment is prevailing among the people of Al-Raqqah city because of the daily massacres perpetrated by the International Coalition, targeting civilians and the displaced who fled to the city, under the pretext of the existence of an ISIS sniper in a building or on top of another.