Posted on 02/19/2017 3:57:50 PM PST by Texas Fossil
Raqqa – The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Sunday seized more ground in eastern Raqqa, pushing Islamic State’s (ISIS) militants out of four more villages.
The Kurdish-led SDF troops captured the villages of Fatatish, Bir, Shamari and Shwehan in the eastern countryside of Raqqa Governorate in northeastern Syria, after clashes with ISIS militants.
“At least 20 ISIS terrorists were killed in the clashes on Sunday, before the group was forced to withdraw from these villages,” SDF officer Habun Osman told ARA News.
The progress comes as part of the SDF-led Third Phase of the Euphrates Wrath Operation for Raqqa.
The SDF has also rescued dozens of civilians that were used by ISIS as human shields in eastern Raqqa.
“66 civilians were freed from the terror group on Sunday,” the SDF official said.
During the first phase of Euphrates Wrath, which began on November 6, 2016, the SDF liberated roughly 560 km² in Northern Raqqa.
On 10 December, the SDF launched the second phase of the Euphrates Wrath, during which it captured over 2500 km² in Western Raqqa.
On 4 February, the Syrian Democratic Forces announced the launch of the third phase of Euphrates Wrath Operation in Eastern Raqqa.
The campaign is ultimately aimed at isolating the ISIS radical group in its de facto capital.
They continue to make steady headway to encircle completely Raqqa. Raqqa is the capital of the ISIS in Syria. It is a large city. Before the siege began it was said to contain 240,000 people. No way to know how many civilians still remain. Water supply was cut off weeks ago, and supply lines cut. It must be taking a toll by now.
Raqqa Ping
wonder how they can be sure the 66 civilians are “civilians”...
I’m sure the villagers would turn in an ISIS member trying to hide. They hate the oppressive animals.
Yes I saw that. The target they hit was somewhat east of Raqqa. I think I read that Russia had coordination to prevent possible miss-targeting.
Which ones were John InSaine supporting?
Not sure, in the past he supported al Qaeda and Nusura.
Sen McCain might end up making his way over there to fly Raqqah sorties in defense of ISIS himself.
I doubt he will ever fly again. That time is long past.
Now he has a long history of being on the wrong side.
That has proven to not improve with age.
Looks like ISIS is pulling in its troops from the rural villages back into Raqqa (or Deir ez Zour). The SDF is just rolling up the front after they pull out, shaping the battlefield.
In this case the villages were in a bulge North of the river and East of Raqqa. The SDF is clearing that area, to consolidate the front just North of the river, which is lined with urban areas, and the main road between Raqqa and ISIS’ other Eatern Stronghold of Deir ez Zour.
At some point the SDF will cut that Eastern road, and at some point perhaps the Western road, which heads back toward their Western stronghold of al Bab (currently being assaulted by the Turks). With the bridges to the South side of the river already dropped, bulk supplies like fuel and food would become scarce.
One of the roads (more likely the Western) might be left open for ISIS to retreat, which has been customary up until this point - but that could well change at this end game.
Step by step, death is coming for ISIS and it’s Caliphate.
Retreat? USAF will slaughter them.
SDF forces have been doing well from what I’ve heard. Consistently.
They cut water to the city a long time ago. Food supplies must be low and they are cut off from resupply.
I’m sure our planes took out a lot of equipment. Door to door in an urban environment is the worst possible place to assault. costly.
Water was restored the next day - a main supply pipe was under one of the bridges that were dropped - just collateral damage. Civilians depend on the water, so it will not be targeted by US strikes (illegal).
The roads are still open (for now) for food, and ISIS has confiscated stockpiles for its fighters to withstand a siege. The civilians would starve first. There could be some of that if things go much longer than expected, but I don’t expect that. I expect the assault to be well supported, so that it won’t bog down for to long.
SDF is doing well, but the mechanics of the operation would normally require a couple of more months to draw the cordon in close to the city, before the urban warfare starts in earnest (unless ISIS orders all its guys to fall back - which would be unlike them - or the attackers get a big reinforcement).
It has been common practice to allow ISIS to retreat from areas, rather than lose a lot more soldiers, kill a lot more civilians, and lay waste to a city. That is how the siege of Manbij ended - with ISIS convoys loaded with their families given safe passage toward the Turkish border (Jarabulus). Mosul has retreat routes open still as well.
Maybe now that the war is culminating against ISIS, a decision might at some point be made to “defeat in detail” (kill them all), which would require cutting off all retreat. That would probably be wise, because most of those guys are not reformable, and would have to flee the country after a complete loss - we don’t need them here, or in Europe.
hmm, I’m very skeptical of ISIS ‘dying’, both in Syria and in Iraq, and of course in many other places around the globe.
And, I don’t think US needs to ally with Russia to ‘kill’ ISIS. US can do that together with her select allies quite successfully.
I find “Iraq launches offensive to recapture western Mosul from Islamic State” article by LA Times outdated, although the actual date for the article is recent.
In sum, hope we won’t have any further discussions about ‘bombing’ ISIS in Syria or Iraq in, say, 6 months.
Thanks for the explanation. Logical. Some of this I had not previously read.
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