Continued battles in areas in Al-Raqqah city as part of the Grand Battle of Al-Raqqah

Al-Raqqah Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: violent clashes continued till after midnight between the Syria Democratic Forces and the Syrian Elite Forces backed by the US Special Forces on one hand and ISIS on the other in several areas in the vicinity of the old city, amid an exchange of shelling between both parties. Casualties were reported at both sides.

The SOHR published yesterday that the “Euphrates Wrath” operation forces managed to regain control over Al-Sinaa neighborhood, the control over which was seized by ISIS on the 30th of June by means of a counter attack. Reliable sources confirmed to the SOHR that the Syrian Elite Forces launched a violent attack from their position in the southern sector of Al-Sinaa neighborhood and managed to make a huge advance and enter the walls of the old city after crossing Bab Baghdad, which the “Euphrates Wrath” operation Forces failed to cross previously because of the fortifications set by ISIS in the area in addition to the landmines planted and the widely-spread snipers.

SOHR published yesterday morning that the Syria Democratic Forces supported by the US Special Forces, were able to break the first defense lines of “Islamic State” organization at the walls of the Old City, where violent clashes were taking place since dawn of yesterday against members of the “Islamic State” organization inside the Old City walls. The Syrian Observatory learned that 3 groups of the Syria Democratic Forces supported by US Special Forces and International Coalition warplanes advanced from 3 areas east of the wall of the Old City at the dawn of yesterday, and managed to penetrate the organization’s defenses under the air cover of the International Coalition warplanes. This is considered the most important advancement made by the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces since the start of the Grand Battle of Al-Raqqah as they were finally able to break into the walls of the Old City in Al-Raqqah. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also published that violent clashes were taking place between the Syria Democratic Forces backed by the US Special Forces on one hand and the “Islamic State” organization on the other, south of Al-Raqqah city at the southern banks of the Euphrates. The Syria Democratic Forces managed to achieve advancement and take control of Ratla village, while the clashes -which were accompanied by heavy shelling on the village and airstrikes by the International Coalition warplanes- caused the death of at least 16 members of the “Islamic State” organization, raising the fatalities that have been documented among ISIS members since yesterday in the shelling and clashes in Al-Raqqah city and south of it, to 33 at least.