Northern Raqqa offensive (May 2016–present)

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The Northern Raqqa offensive is a military offensive launched by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in the northern countryside of the city of ar-Raqqah, in order to prepare for a future attack on the city itself. The offensive was launched in coordination with airstrikes by the US-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.[1]

Background

On 1 April 2016, PYD leader Salih Muslim stated that SDF forces are preparing with the US-led Coalition to launch an offensive on al-Raqqa.[2]

There have been a visit in north Syria by U.S. Central Command Commander General Joseph L. Votel, the highest-ranking U.S. military official to visit Syria since the war erupted in 2011.[3]

Kurdish forces have established a stronghold about 37 kilometers (23 miles) north of Raqqa.[4] ISIL is reportedly using the residents of al-Raqqa as human shields, preventing them from leaving the city.[5]

According to Joshua Walker of the German Marshall Fund, Raqqa could be "the beginning of the end" for ISIL and the most important offensive since Kobani last year.[6]

Preparations

On 20 May the US-led coalition dropped leaflets on the city, encouraging the residents to leave.[7]

SDF is led and dominated by YPG forces, whuch is generally consisted of Kurds. To avoid ethnic tensions with Raqqa's majority Arab population, US special forces trained more than 200 fighters from the Syrian Arab Coalition to take part in the offensive.

The announcement for the offensive was made on 24 May,[8] when the 30,000-strong[5] SDF announced the offensive, "with participation from all SDF units",[9] mobilising thousands of fighters in the countryside north of Raqqa, with the aim of expelling ISIL fighters from north of al-Raqqa. Fighting was reportedly ongoing near Ain Issa, situated 55 km from al-Raqqa.[6]

The US-led Coalition has stated that it will provide air support for the offensive.[6] Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov announced that his country was ready to coordinate with U.S. and Kurdish forces in the offensive,[6] but the U.S., distrustful of the Russian establishment, turned down the offer.[10]

The offensive

On 21 May 2016 the SDF, led by the YPG, captured the village of al-Hishah, near the town of Ayn Issa in the northern countryside from ISIL, killing 8 fighters.[11] In the following days additional SDF fighters were mobilized from Tel Abyad to Ayn Issa.[1] IS fighters in Raqqa responded by creating defensive lines and tunnels in the city.[12] 7 Coalition airstrikes on IS positions were confirmed on 23 May.[13] On 25 May the SDF took control of the Namrodia and Matmashraja villages near Ayn Issa.[14]

On 26 May, the SDF reported new gains. SDF forces took the villages of Qartaja, al-Fastah, Indebin and Matmasraja. They had advanced some 6 km into IS-held lands north of Raqqah,[15] and killed at least 31 IS fighters.[16] By 30 May, ISIL had redeployed 2,000 to 3,000 militants to ar-Raqqah, from Mosul and other areas controlled by ISIL.[17]

See also

References

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  17. Fake Caliphate: Loss of Raqqa Will ‘End Sponsors From Foreign Nations’