The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

The Syria Democratic Forces control about 41% of ISIS stronghold after 7 weeks of the grand battle of Al-Raqqah

About 940 civilians and fighters were killed in 50 days of intense bombing and shelling, violent clashes and explosions in Al-Raqqah city

 

The grand battle of Al-Raqqah ended its 49th days heading towards its goal of controlling Al-Raqqah city, and expelling the “Islamic State” organization from its capital and main stronghold in Syria, the Syria Democratic Forces were able during this period to enter the city and control several of its neighborhoods and reached parts of some other neighborhoods
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored the Syria Democratic controlling more areas in the stronghold of the “Islamic State” organization in Syria, where SDF were able in 7 weeks of battles in Al-Raqqah city and its countryside to control about 41% of the size of Al-Raqqah city, taking control of the entire areas located west of the New Bridge in the southern and western section of Al-Raqqah city Where they fully controlled the neighborhoods of the al-Sabahiya, al-Romaniya, Hutteen, Qadisiyah and Yarmouk west of the city, and the Syria Democratic Forces took control of the neighborhoods of Mashlab, al-Batani and al-Sinaa completely, while they control about half of the neighbourhood of Hisham bin Abdul Malik and parts of the Old City and the neighborhoods Al-Rawda and al-Rumaila as well as the houses of the Euphrates Basin and al-Idikhar Houses and the northern parts of al-Dar’eiyah neighbourhood, in addition to the Panorama roundabout, Panorama Triangle and the western parts of Nazlat Shhada neighbourhood, also the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that groups of the Syria Democratic Forces operating in the southern part of Al-Raqqah city are working on advancing and reaching each other by advancing from Hisham Bin Abdul Malik neighborhood and Nazlat Shhada neighborhood to control these two neighborhoods located on the northern banks of the Euphrates River, and with that the Syria Democratic Forces have clamp down more on the “Islamic State” organization.

The violent clashes and advancement in several areas came as a result of the daily bombing by the International Coalition and shelling by “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces on sites of the “Islamic State” organization in the clash areas, which killed and injured members of the “Islamic State” organization and forces others to withdraw of their locations, thus the advancement of Syria Democratic Forces and the US Special Forces to these areas.

This bombardment of the International Coalition for Al-Raqqah city since the start of the grand battle of Al-Raqqah on the 6th of June 2017 until today the 24th of July 2017 have killed 302 people including an SOHR activist. The casualties are: 286 civilians included at least 50 children under the age of eighteen and 38 female citizens over the age of eighteen were killed in Al-Raqqah city, and 16 civilians including 3 children and 4 women were killed in raids on Deir Shamar at the southern banks of Euphrates River in the eastern countryside of Al-Raqqah . 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 since the start of the grand battle of Al-Raqqah the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented the death of 434 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.

While the SOHR documented during the same period the death of 198 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. 

 

 

High-Resolution link of al-Raqqah Map
http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d6b4/aafxgj84coaagvkzg.jpg