Syrian Democratic Forces make new gains in Raqqa despite stiff resistance


nsnbc : The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) made new gain in Raqqa and captured an additional district despite stiff and increasing resistance from ISIS. The Raqqa Civilian Council, for its part, declared a humanitarian amnesty for 83 captured persons with links to ISIS as a goodwill gesture on the Eid holiday.

SDF troops in Raqqa_Syria_Jun 2017The Predominantly Syrian – Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on Sunday, seized the al-Qadisiya district of Raqqa from fighters of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL, Daesh).

It took three days of at times intense fighting before SDF troops had secured the district. Al-Qadisiya is the sixth district of Raqqa that has been captured by the U.S.-backed SDF. Last week the SDF captured the Raqqa districts of al-Mishlab, al-Sabahiya, al-Romaniya and Sinaa.

Raqqa has since the summer of 2014 been known as de-facto capital of the Islamic State. On June 6 the SDF officially announced the start of the campaign to seize Raqqa city after the SDF, in the months before June, seized the city of Tabqa and the all-important Tabqa Dam from ISIS without giving ISIS the opportunity to blast the dam and to create a catastrophic flood downstream.

Tabqa Dam liberation_SDF_YPG press office_May 2017_1SDF operations aimed to isolate Raqqa began already in November 2016 when the U.S.-backed SDF launched Operation Euphrates Wrath. The operation sped up significantly after the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump, in early 2017, gave the green light to also arm the Syrian – Kurdish YPG and YPJ.

The YPG (People’s Protection Units) and the YPJ (Women’s Protection Units) are the military wings of the Syrian – Kurdish PYD (Democratic Union Party). Turkey, for its part, considers the PYD – YPG/YPJ nexus as terrorist organizations linked to and on par with Turkey’s outlawed Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK).

The YPG/YPJ have an estimated 60,000 persons under arms and constitute the main force within the SDF. At the onset of the liberation of Raqqa the YPG that the war for the liberation of the city will begin with the participation of the Army of Revolutionaries (Jaysh al-Thuwar), Jabhat al-Akrad, Democratic al-Shamal Brigades, Tribal Forces, Maghawir Humus Brigades, Siqur al-Raqqa, Liwa al-Tahrir, Seljuk Turkmen Brigade, Hamam Turkmen Martyrs Battalion, Sanadid Forces, Syriac Military Council, Manbij Military Council, Deir ez-Zor Military Council, Self-Defense Forces, Asayish Forces, YPG/YPJ and Nuxbe Forces.

On April 13 the SDF launched its fourth phase of operation Euphrates Wrath the SDF. During the first phase that was launched in November 2016 the SDF, backed by U.S-air forces, a contingent of Marines, and special forces, seized about 560 square kilometer in northern Raqqa province. During its second phase that was launched on December 10, 2016, the SDF seized large territories in western Raqqa province. On February 4, 2017, the SDF launched the third phase and seized dozens of villages east of Raqqa from ISIS before it launched the campaign to capture the city.

ISIS resistance increases

While previous operations were largely and with few exceptions, were operations in which mobility and flexibility were major factors the liberation of Raqqa city has to be conducted in urban, street to street, house to house, and in the end room to room operations. It is in this theater that ISIS, the defending force that also is surrounded by non-combatant civilians, has a strategic advantage, provided that it can maintain a supply route.

U.S. Colonel Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the Combined Joined Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, commented “In the first two weeks there was significant progress, very quick progress. … The SDF in the advance, have since hit some significant resistance from ISIS. And now we are starting to see some of these, you know, better emplaced defenses as we have gotten to the campaign in and around Raqqa”.

Amnesty for 83 ISIS members

SDF_Captures ISIS fighter_Raqqa_Syria_Syrian Democratic ForcesThe Raqqa Civilian Council, established by the SDF, has pardoned 83 captured ISIS fighters. The Council stated that this was a goodwill gesture aimed to promote stability, and in some cases based on humanitarian considerations.

The Council stated on Saturday that the people who were granted an amnesty were low-ranking members who were not involved in violence. The youngest one was reportedly just 14 years-old.

The amnesty coincided with the Muslim Eid Al-Fitr holiday that ends the month of Ramadan. Detached observers may ponder over the point that religious phantasies continue to inspire acts of grace, as much as they inspire the most atrocious outrages against humanity.

CH/L – nsnbc 26.06.2017



Source Article from https://nsnbc.me/2017/06/26/syrian-democratic-forces-make-new-gains-in-raqqa-despite-stiff-resistance/

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