On the 1st day of its 2nd month… the grand battle of Al-Raqqah continues violently and the “Islamic State” organization is desperate to keep the attacking forces away of the city center

Al-Raqqah city is witnessing violent clashes between the Syria Democratic Forces supported by the US Special Forces against the “Islamic State” organization, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that the violent clashes are concentrated in areas in the old city, after continuous attempts by the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces to achieve a new advancement, after they were able 2 days ago of controlling about 200 meters of the city’s old wall opposite to the Sinaa neighbourhood until Bab Baghdad, towards the depth of Al-Raqqah city.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also learned that the violent clashes are taking place between fighters of the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces against members of the “Islamic State” organization, in areas at the outskirts of Hisham bin Abdul Malik and the vicinity of Al Hal Market south of Al-Raqqah city, and in Bareed al-Dar’eiyah in the western section of Al-Raqqah city, and reliable sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that the “Islamic State” organization is carrying out counter-attacks in attempts to regain control of the areas and sites which it lost, and to keep the fighters of “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces away of the depth of the city, and confirmed information about casualties in the ranks of both parties.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published yesterday that it rose to at least 224 including an SOHR activist. 224 represent the number of Syrian civilians whose death has been documented by the SOHR since the 5th of June 2017 until dawn today, the 6th of July. Fatalities included at least 38 children below the age of 18 and 28 female citizens above 18. 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.
On the other hand, at least 311 ISIS elements, 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 elements and the injury of tens of others.
In addition, the SOHR documented the death of 106 fighters of the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces, including two of the Syrian Elite Forces and the rest are among 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.

Also on the 5th of July 2017 a new batch of weapons sent by the International Coalition 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.