Continued fighting between the SDF and ISIS in several areas in Al-Raqqah city and shelling continues to target areas there

Al-Raqqah Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: violent clashes continued until after midnight between the Syrian Democratic Forces backed by the US Special Forces on one hand and ISIS on the other in several areas in Al-Raqqah city. Simultaneously, a violent explosion was heard in the Old City. Information was reported that it was caused by a booby-trapped car blown up by ISIS in the area. Clashes were accompanied by shelling by the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces on areas in the city, amid the hovering of warplanes in the city skies and targeting of ISIS-controlled areas in Al-Raqqah every now and then. The SOHR published yesterday morning, the 27th of August 2017, that the SDF managed yesterday to advance into the south of Nazlat Shhada neighborhood and took control of the southern section of Al-Morur “Al-Haramiyah” neighborhood, in the city center. Violent clashes there were accompanied by intensive shelling by the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces and by the International Coalition warplanes on areas in the city. Information was reported that such clashes left tens of fighters of both parties dead and injured. The SOHR also published 4 days ago that the SDF managed, since the launch of the great battle of Al-Raqqah on the 6th of June 2017 until the 23rd of August, to take control of 60.1% of the area of Al-Raqqah city, which is estimated at 17.6 square kilometers of the area of the city. ISIS, on the other hand, continues to control about 39.9% of the area of the city, estimated at 11.7 square kilometers of Al-Raqqah city. Meanwhile, battles continue in an attempt by the SDF to advance more into the city after having fully controlled the neighborhoods of Al-Sabahiya, Al-Romania, Hutteen, Qadisiyah, Yarmouk and Al-Karim, west of the city. The SDF also took full control of the neighborhoods of Al-Mashlab, Al-Batani, Al-Sena’aa, east of the city, in addition to the neighborhoods of Hisham bin Abdul Malik and Nazlat Shhada in the southern part of the city. They also seized control of huge parts of the old city, and parts of the neighborhoods of Al-Rawda, Al-Rumila, Hawd Al-Furat Housing, Idikhar Housing and the northern parts of Al-Dar’eiyah neighborhood, in addition to taking control of the shrine of the Prophet Companion Ammar Ibn Yasser, and the shrine of the Prophet Follower Uwais al-Qarni.