The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Apache helicopters participate in the fight within the grand battle of Al-Raqqah

Al-Raqqah Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: the clashes continue between members of the “Islamic State” organization against the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces led by the Syria Democratic Forces with the support of the US Special Forces, in areas in the Old City and in the neighborhood of Bareed al-Dar’eiyah and the western part of the city, and in the outskirts of the neighbourhood of Hisham bin Abdul Malik south of the city, the clashes were accompanied by exchange of shelling between both parties, and the activists of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored during the daylight hours an intense flight for the International Coalition warplanes and Apache helicopters, and Al-Raqqah city witnessed the flight of surveillance drones, in conjunction with an intense flight of Apache helicopters, and intense violent shelling between “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces and Coalition warplanes on the “Islamic State” organization in areas in the city .

Also in the past 48 hours, hundreds of civilians were able to get out of the areas controlled by the “Islamic State” organization, to areas controlled by the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces west of Al-Raqqah city including children and women, and they managed to reach to areas controlled by the Syria Democratic Forces, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that the number of civilians in the “Islamic State” organization’s controlled areas in the city is estimated by tens of thousands of children, women and men, who fell between the hammer of the bombing of the International Coalition and the military operations; and the anvil of the “Islamic State “organization, which takes them as a human shields, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published on Wednesday the Syria Democratic Forces impose their control over 50% of the area of the Old City of Al-Raqqah, after going deep into several areas west of the Old City walls, also they were able to advance in other areas in the city, extending their control to about 35% of the area of Al-Raqqah city. The daily clashes are accompanied by violent exchange of shelling between both parties, and by bombing by the International Coalition and shelling by “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces, and detonating booby trapped vehicles by the “Islamic State “organization, which caused destruction to the city’s infrastructure, and large destruction to hundreds of homes, shops, warehouses and public utilities.

Pictures by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights show citizens get out of areas controlled by the “Islamic State” organization in Al-Raqqah city, to areas controlled by the Syria Democratic Forces and “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces  in the western part of Al-Raqqah city

https://www.facebook.com/syriahro/posts/10155765386053115

Video shows tens of citizens getting out of neighborhoods controlled by the “Islamic State” organization in Al-Raqqah city, to areas controlled by the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces in the west of the city

https://www.facebook.com/syriahro/videos/10155765388483115/

The SOHR continued to follow up on, observe and document the situation in Al-Raqqah city, including battles, advancements, attacks, destruction, and daily killings of more and more civilians, where it rose to at least 233 including an SOHR activist, the number of Syrian civilians whose death has been documented by the SOHR since the 5th of June 2017 until dawn today, the 12th of July 2017. Fatalities included at least 39 children below the age of eighteen and 30 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 359 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 137 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.

A video by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights shows the flight of Apache helicopters in the skies of Al-Raqqah city and its surroundings, with the continuation of the grand battle of Al-Raqqah in the city; between the Syria Democratic forces  supported by the US Special Forces against the “Islamic State” organization.

https://www.facebook.com/syriahro/videos/10155766766903115/