The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Coalition warplanes cause more casualties by bombing Al-Raqqah with the continuation of clashes in areas in the city

Al-Raqqah Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: the International Coalition warplanes continue to carry out airstrikes and target areas controlled by the “Islamic State” organization in Al-Raqqah city, which caused more casualties and wounded, raising to at least 10, the number of persons who were killed in the last 24 hours in the aerial bombardment and shelling by the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces which accompanies the raids on the area, while clashes are taking place between the Syria Democratic Forces supported by the International Coalition and US Special Forces against the “Islamic State” organization in areas in the city, and the clashes are concentrated in the neighborhoods of Yarmouk, the Old City and Hisham bin Abdul Malik, amid exchange of targeting between both of them.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published that the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces managed to advance and take control of the western part of Yarmouk neighborhood. Meanwhile, clashes continue between both parties in an attempt by the factions to make a new advancement and expand their area of control and thus minimize ISIS-controlled areas. Cross-sources confirmed to the SOHR that hundreds of families managed to flee ISIS-controlled areas in Al-Raqqah city during the last 48 hours to SDF-controlled areas at the outskirts of the city and in its vicinity. In addition, the SOHR published on the 12th of July 2017 that hundreds of civilians, including children and female citizens, managed within 48 hours prior to that date to flee ISIS-controlled areas to areas controlled by the “Euphrates Wrath” Operation Forces, west of Aleppo, and they all managed to reach SDF-controlled areas. The SOHR also learned that the number of civilians in ISIS-controlled areas in the city is estimated to be tens of thousands of children, female citizens, young men, and men who were caught between the International Coalition shelling and military operations on one hand and the “Islamic State” organization, which is using them as human shields on the other.