Northern Raqqa offensive (November 2016)

Northern Raqqa offensive (November 2016) Part of the Syrian Civil War, the Syrian Kurdish–Islamist conflict (2013–present), and the American-led intervention in Syria Date 6 November 2016 – present (4 weeks and 1 day) Location Raqqa Governorate, Syria Status Ongoing SDF capture 48 villages and farms, two water and power stations[1] Territorial changes SDF capture 560km² of land from ISIL control[2] Belligerents Syrian Democratic Forces CJTF–OIR  United States  France  Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Commanders and leaders Rojda Felat[3] (YPJ commander)[4] Diljin Kobani[5] (YPJ commander) Kino Gabriel[6] (MFS commander) Fayad Ghanim[7] (Raqqa Hawks Brigade commander) Abu Saleh al-Hindawi[8] (Raqqa Hawks Brigade commander) Bandar al-Humaydi[6] (Al-Sanadid Forces military chief commander) Abd al-Basit al-Iraqi †[9] (ISIL commander of Middle East external networks) Units involved Syrian Democratic Forces People's Protection Units (YPG)[10] Women's Protection Units (YPJ)[10] Syriac Military Council (MFS)[10] Bethnahrin Women Protection Forces[11] Raqqa Hawks Brigade[10] Raqqa Martyrs Brigade[10] Jaysh al-Salam Liberation Brigade[11] Liwa Ahrar Raqqa[10] Tal Abyad Revolutionaries Front[10] Hammam Turkmen Martyrs Brigade[10] Army of Revolutionaries Martyr Kaseem al-Areef Battalion[12] Elite Forces[12] Owais al-Qarani Brigade remnants[13] Al-Sanadid Forces[6] United States Armed Forces United States special operations forces[14] United States Air Force Military of ISIL Strength 30,000+[15][16] 2,000 Al-Sanadid fighters[17] Unknown number of Raqqa garrison fighters 200 reinforcements[18] Casualties and losses 26–32 killed [19][20][21][22][23] 1 killed[24] 198 killed, 15 armored vehicles lost (ISIL claim)[25] 185 killed[23] 30+ civilians killed[26][27] 5,000+ displaced[28]

Syrian Civil War Timeline Jan–Apr 2011 May–Aug 2011 Sep–Dec 2011 Jan–Apr 2012 May–Aug 2012 Sep–Dec 2012 Jan–Apr 2013 May–Dec 2013 Jan–July 2014 Aug–Dec 2014 Jan–July 2015 Aug–Dec 2015 Jan–Apr 2016 May–Aug 2016 Sep–Dec 2016 Casualties Cities Bombings Massacres Civil uprising in Syria (March–August 2011) Daraa Baniyas Homs (May–August 2011) Talkalakh Rastan and Talbiseh 1st Jisr ash-Shugur 1st Jabal al-Zawiya Hama Latakia Start of insurgency (September 2011 – April 2012) Homs (2011–14) Homs offensive 1st Idlib Gov. Syrian–Turkish border Jabal al-Zawiya 1st Idlib City Saraqeb 1st Rastan Hama Gov. Daraa Gov. Kernaz 1st Rif Dimashq 1st Zabadani Douma Deir ez-Zor (2011–2014) Hatla Aleppo Gov. Azaz 2nd Rastan 1st al-Qusayr 2nd Idlib Gov. Taftanaz Cease-fire and civil war (May 2012 – December 2013) 3rd Rastan Houla Al-Haffah Al-Qubeir Al-Tremseh 3rd Idlib Gov. 1st Damascus Bombing Aleppo Anadan Menagh Air Base Base 46 Khan al-Assal 1st Aleppo offensive 2nd Aleppo offensive Syrian Kurdistan Ras al-Ayn Kurdish–Islamist conflict Nubl & Al-Zahraa 2nd Rif Dimashq (1st Darayya) Abu al-Duhur Airbase Quneitra Gov. 3rd Rif Dimashq 1st Yarmouk camp 2nd Darayya Darayya & Muadamiyat Aqrab 1st Hama offensive Halfaya 1st Safira Shadadeh 2nd Damascus Raqqa 1st Daraa offensive 4th Rif Dimashq Jdaidet al-Fadl Ghouta Al-Qusayr offensive 2nd al-Qusayr Bayda and Baniyas 2nd Hama offensive 1st Latakia offensive Ma'loula Sadad 5th Rif Dimashq 1st Qalamoun Adra Rise of the Islamists (January–September 2014) Rebel–ISIL conflict Markada 1st Deir ez-Zor offensive al-Otaiba ambush Maan Hosn Morek 2nd Daraa offensive 2nd Latakia offensive 4th Idlib Gov. Al-Malihah 2nd Wadi Deif 2nd Qalamoun Arsal 1st Shaer gas field Eastern Syria Tabqa Air base 3rd Hama offensive 6th Rif Dimashq Quneitra Kobanî United States-led intervention (September 2014 – September 2015) U.S.-led intervention 3rd Daraa offensive 2nd Safira 2014 Idlib city raid Nusra–FSA conflict 2nd Shaer gas field 1st Al-Shaykh Maskin 2nd Deir ez-Zor offensive 3rd Aleppo offensive An-26 crash 4th Daraa offensive Southern Syria Eastern al-Hasakah offensive 1st Sarrin Hama/Homs offensive Bosra 5th Idlib Gov 2nd Idlib city Al-Fu'ah-Kafriya Nasib 2nd Yarmouk camp 1st Northwestern Syria 3rd Qalamoun 1st Palmyra Western al-Hasakah offensive 1st Al-Hasakah city Tell Abyad Daraa/As-Suwayda 2nd Quneitra 2nd Sarrin 5th Daraa 2nd Al-Hasakah city 2nd Kobanî 4th Aleppo offensive 2nd Zabadani 2nd Palmyra Al-Ghab 1st Al-Qaryatayn Douma market 7th Rif Dimashq Kuweires offensive Russian intervention (September 2015 – March 2016) Russian intervention 3rd Quneitra 2nd Northwestern Syria 3rd Latakia offensive Su-24 shootdown 5th Aleppo offensive Al-Hawl Homs offensive 6th Aleppo offensive 4th Hama offensive Tell Tamer Tishrin Dam 2nd Al-Shaykh Maskin al-Qamishli bombings Orontes River 3rd Deir ez-Zor offensive 1st Sayyidah Zaynab 7th Aleppo offensive 1st Ithriyah-Raqqa Al-Shaddadi Homs bombings 2nd Sayyidah Zaynab Khanasir 2nd Tel Abyad 2nd Al-Qaryatayn 3rd Palmyra 2nd Maarat al-Nu'man Aleppo escalation and Turkish intervention (March 2016–present) 8th Aleppo offensive 6th Daara 9th–11th Aleppo offensives Al-Dumayr East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict Al-Qamishli clashes Aleppo bombings 8th Rif Dimashq 3rd Shaer gas field 1st northern Raqqa Jableh & Tartus Manbij Tokhar 2nd Ithriyah-Raqqa 9th Rif Dimashq 12th–14th Aleppo offensives 12th 13th 14th 4th Latakia offensive Al-Bukamal 3rd Qamishli Atmeh al-Rai 3rd Al-Hasakah City Turkish intervention Northern al-Bab Dabiq al-Bab 5th Hama offensive 1st Western al-Bab Eastern Qalamoun September bombings 4th Quneitra offensive Deir ez-Zor airstrike Aleppo aid convoy attack 15th Aleppo offensive Khan al-Shih Idlib inter-rebel conflict 2nd Western al-Bab 16th Aleppo offensive 2nd Northern Raqqa 17th Aleppo offensive Syrian War spillover and international incidents Lebanon spillover Lebanese–Syrian border Sidon Iranian embassy bombing North Lebanon Clashes Syrian–Turkish border Turkey-SAA F4 aircraft Kurdish riots Reyhanlı Russo-Turkish confrontation Russian Su-24 shootdown Syrian–Israeli ceasefire line Mazraat Amal Jordanian–Syrian border Spillover Syrian–Iraqi border Akashat al-Shabah Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War Turkish involvement Turkey–ISIL conflict Relocation of the Tomb of Suleyman Shah military intervention Russian involvement military intervention Iranian involvement Hezbollah involvement Israeli airstrikes Jan 2013 Rif Dimashq May 2013 Rif Dimashq Dec 2014 Rif Dimashq U.S.-led Intervention Timeline of raids 2014 rescue operation May 2015 raid Dutch involvement German intervention French intervention Australian intervention UK intervention Jordanian intervention Operation Martyr Muath Qatari support Saudi support Foreign rebel fighters

The northern Raqqa offensive, codenamed operation Wrath of Euphrates, is an ongoing military operation launched by the Syrian Democratic Forces against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Raqqa Governorate, with the goal of capturing the de facto ISIL capital city of Raqqa. The offensive is concurrent with the anti-ISIL offensive and battle for al-Bab near Aleppo, and battle for Mosul in Iraq.

Background

In late October 2016, the United States Secretary of Defense Ash Carter called for an offensive on Raqqa to be concurrent with the Battle of Mosul in Iraq. He stated that the US is cooperating with its allies in order to launch an "isolation operation" around Raqqa. On 26 October, the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the President of the United States Barack Obama and stated that he did not want the People's Protection Units (YPG) to participate in the planned operation, and instead planned to involve the Turkish Armed Forces. The United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon rejected the idea of non-Arab forces taking part in the offensive and demanded a purely Arab force.^[29]

On the same day, the commander of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend stressed that the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces is the only armed group capable of capturing Raqqa in the near future. Fewer US-led coalition troops will be involved than in the Battle of Mosul.^[30] On 3 November, the commander of the Seljuk Brigade and the SDF spokesman Col. Talal Silo rejected the participation of Turkey in the operation.^[31]

Announcement

The SDF officially announced the start of the operation on 6 November in the village of Ayn Issa.^[32] The intention was to proceed in two phases, first seizing areas around Raqqa and isolating the city, advancing from three fronts, then taking control of the city itself.^[33] The SDF general command called for the international coalition against ISIL to support the operation.^[34] In response, Ash Carter welcomed the announcement and emphasized the importance of capturing Raqqa and defeating ISIL, while cautioning that "there is hard work ahead".^[35]

The offensive

First phase: Isolating Raqqa from its northern hinterland

On 6 November, the SDF captured six small villages,^[15] including the villages of Wahid, Umm Safa, Wasita, Haran, al-Adriyah and Jurah south and southeast of Ayn Issa.^[36] IS detonated four car bombs on the first day of the offensive.^[5]

On 8 November, the SDF reported that they had taken control of 11 villages near Ain Issa. The SDF also claimed that IS had used several car bombs against their forces.^[37] By 11 November, the SDF had captured over a dozen villages and the strategically significant town of Al-Hisbah, which had served as a local headquarters and command center for ISIL.^[38] On the next day, the SDF continued to advance against ISIL in the area around Tal Saman and Khnez, bringing the number of captured farms and villages to 26.^[39]

As of 14 November, the SDF reported the completion of the initial phase of the operations, stating that 50 km² has been captured: 34 villages, 31 hamlets and seven strategic hills, along with 167 Islamic State casualties.^[6] The SDF had also begun to besiege Tal Saman, the largest village and ISIL headquarters north of Raqqa,^[40] while ISIL launched a counter-attack near Salok in the eastern countryside of Al-Raqqah Governorate in order to force the SDF to split its forces and open a new front.^[41] On the next day, the SDF advanced into Tal Saman, resulting in a fierce battle with its ISIL defenders.^[42] At the same time, the SDF also captured 10 more villages and farms.^[43][44] By 19 November, the SDF had fully captured Tal Saman and had driven ISIL completely from the surrounding countryside.^[45][46] With this, the first phase of the offensive was considered completed.^[47]

Second phase: Attempt at blockading Raqqa

Stalemate and preparation

The second phase of the offensive aims to enforce a full blockade of the city of Raqqa.^[47] On 21 November, the SDF captured two more villages,^[48] while ISIL launched a counter-attack near Tal Saman.^[49] Over the next days, the SDF attempted to further advance, such as at al-Qalita,^[50] but was unable to break through ISIL's defense line south of Tal Saman.^[51] On 24 November, a US serviceman died from wounds he suffered when stepping on an improvised explosive device near the town of Ayn Issa, north of Raqqa.^[52]

On 25 November, ISIL received reinforcements from Iraq, among them explosive experts and defected Iraqi Army personnel.^[53] On the next day, ISIL launched a counter-attack, retaking parts of Qaltah village and a nearby Water Pump Station, while the SDF managed to advance in the village's vicinity.^[54][55]

On 27 November, the SDF announced the offensive's second phase was due to start.^[56]

Civil administration of SDF captured territory

On 14 November, the SDF's civilian sister institution, the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), started working on the establishment of a civilian administration to run the city of Raqqa after the expulsion of Islamic State. SDC co-chair Îlham Ehmed was quoted saying that "such an administration could provide a good example for democratic change in Raqqa, especially that the city has been for years a de facto capital for the ISIS terrorist group. This accomplishment would be a major change in the overall situation in Syria, and would help the country move towards stability, democratic change. Raqqa will be an example for the whole country."^[57]

See also

• Battle of Raqqa (2013)
• Northern Raqqa offensive (May 2016)
• Cities and towns during the Syrian Civil War

References

Syrian Civil War
Part of the Arab Spring
Background Timeline Background 1963 coup d'état 1966 coup d'état 1970 "Corrective Revolution" 1979–82 Islamic uprising 1999 Latakia protests 2000–01 Damascus Spring 2004 al-Qamishli riots Syrian occupation of Lebanon 2005 Damascus Declaration Human rights in Syria 2011 (Jan–Apr • May–Aug • Sep–Dec) Death of Hamza Ali Al-Khateeb Siege of Daraa Siege of Baniyas Talkalakh siege Siege of Rastan and Talbiseh Jisr ash-Shugur operation Siege of Hama Siege of Homs Jabal al-Zawiya operation Siege of Latakia Deir ez-Zor Clashes Rif Dimashq clashes Battle of Zabadani Battle of Douma Daraa Governorate clashes First Battle of Rastan Shayrat and Tiyas airbase ambush Idlib Governorate clashes Jabal al-Zawiya massacres 2012 (Jan–Apr • May–Aug • Sep–Dec) al-Midan bombing Second Battle of Rastan First Idlib operation First Battle of Idlib First Battle of al-Qusayr Second Idlib operation Battle of Taftanaz Third Battle of Rastan Houla massacre Battle of al-Haffah Al-Qubeir massacre Battle of Tremseh Battle of Damascus Damascus bombing Battle of Aleppo Battle of Anadan Siege of Base 46 First Rif Dimashq offensive Darayya massacre Battle of Khirbet al-Joz Battle of Maarrat al-Nu'man First Siege of Wadi Deif Battle of Harem Second Rif Dimashq offensive Battle of Darayya Aqrab massacre First Hama offensive Halfaya massacre Battle of Darayya Quneitra Governorate clashes Talbiseh bakery massacre 2013 (Jan–Apr • May–Dec) Battle of Safira Battle of Shadadeh Damascus offensive Battle of Raqqa Daraa offensive Third Rif Dimashq offensive Battle of Jdaidet al-Fadl Ghouta chemical attack Al-Qusayr offensive Second Battle of al-Qusayr Bayda and Baniyas massacres Second Hama offensive Hatla massacre Khan al-Assal chemical attack Khan al-Assal massacre Adra massacre Battle of Ras al-Ayn Fourth Rif Dimashq offensive Aleppo offensive 2014 (Jan–Jul • Aug–Dec) First Inter-Rebel Conflict Battle of Markada First Deir ez-Zor Offensive Battle of Mork 2nd Daraa Offensive Maan massacre Al-Otaiba ambush 4th Idlib Offensive Battle of Hosn 2nd Latakia Offensive Battle of Al-Malihah Kafr Zita chemical attack Second Siege of Wadi Deif 2nd Qalamoun Offensive Battle of Arsal First Battle of the Shaer gas field Eastern Syria Offensive Battle for Tabqa Air base 3rd Hama Offensive Quneitra Offensive 6th Rif Dimashq offensive Siege of Kobanî 3rd Daraa offensive 2nd Al-Safira offensive Idlib Raid Second Inter-Rebel Conflict Second Battle of the Shaer gas field Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin 2nd Deir ez-Zor offensive 2015 (Jan–Jul • Aug–Dec) An-26 crash 4th Daraa Offensive Southern Syria Offensive Eastern al-Hasakah offensive 1st Battle of Sarrin 2nd Battle of Sarrin Battle of Bosra 5th Idlib Offensive Second Battle of Idlib Battle of Nasib Border Crossing 2nd Battle of Yarmouk Camp Western al-Hasakah offensive Palmyra offensive (May 2015) Tell Abyad offensive Kobanî massacre Quneitra offensive Palmyra offensive (July–August 2015) 7th Rif Dimashq offensive Northwestern Syria offensive 2015 Aleppo offensive 2015 Al-Hawl offensive Homs offensive (November–December 2015) East Aleppo offensive (2015–16) Latakia offensive (2015–2016) Tishrin Dam offensive 2015 Russian Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown 2016 (Jan–Apr * May–Aug) Second Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin 3rd Deir ez-Zor offensive Sayyidah Zaynab bombings Wusta clashes Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016) Ithriyah-Raqqah offensive (February–March 2016) Al-Shaddadi offensive (2016) February Homs bombings February Sayyidah Zaynab bombings 2016 Khanasir offensive Battle of Tel Abyad Qamishli clashes (April 2016) Northern Aleppo offensive (March–June 2016) Palmyra offensive (March 2016) East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (April–May 2016) 8th Rif Dimashq offensive Northern Raqqa offensive (May 2016) May 2016 Jableh and Tartous bombings Ithriyah-Raqqah offensive (June 2016) 9th Rif Dimashq offensive Manbij offensive (2016) Tokhar 2016 Southern Aleppo campaign Battle of al-Rai (August 2016) 2016 Aleppo campaign Jarabulus offensive (2016) Western al-Bab offensive (2016) 5 September 2016 Syria bombings September 2016 Deir ez-Zor air raid September 2016 Urum al-Kubra Aid Convoy Attack September Aleppo offensive 2016 Dabiq offensive Western al-Bab offensive (October 2016) Aleppo offensive (October 2016) Khan al-Shih offensive (October 2016) Northern Raqqa offensive (November 2016) Northern al-Bab offensive (November 2016) Battle of al-Bab (2016) Aleppo offensive (November 2016) Spillover Spillover into Lebanon Lebanese–Syrian border clashes Battle of Sidon Iranian Embassy Bombing Northern Lebanon Clashes Syrian-Turkish border clashes December 2011 Syrian–Turkish border clash Turkish aircraft shootdown October 2012 Syrian-Turkish border clashes Reyhanlı bombings January 2014 Turkish airstrike in Syria Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line incidents Jordanian-Syrian border clashes April 2014 Jordanian–Syrian border airstrike Spillover into Iraq Akashat ambush Operation al-Shabah April 2014 Iraqi–Syrian border airstrike
Involved parties Syria Ba'ath Government| Syrian Regional Branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party Syrian Social Nationalist Party Arab Socialist Movement Syrian Communist Party Military & Militias Syrian Armed Forces Ba'ath Brigades Syrian Resistance Syrian Social Nationalist Party PFLP-GC Palestine Liberation Army Liwa al-Quds Smaller groups Support for the government Hezbollah involvement Iranian involvement Liwa Fatemiyoun Russia's involvement military intervention Russia–Syria–Iran–Iraq coalition Popular Mobilization Forces (Iraq) Opposition & allies NCSR Government National Coalition Local Co-ordination Committees Syrian National Council Supreme Council of the Syrian Revolution National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change Syrian Revolution General Commission Syrian Support Group Adopt a Revolution Opposition militias Jaysh al-Halab Fatah Halab Hawar Kilis Southern Front Jaysh al-Islam Al-Rahman Legion Liwa al-Majid Martyrs of Islam Brigade Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union Victory Brigades New Syrian Army Jaysh Usud al-Sharqiya Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo Jabhat Ansar al-Islam Alwiya al-Furqan Support for the Opposition American-led intervention American rescue mission Jordanian intervention Qatari involvement Saudi Arabia Turkey Army of Conquest & allies Army of Conquest Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Ahrar al-Sham Sham Legion Harakat Nour al-Din al-Zenki Jaysh al-Sunna Suqour al-Sham Brigade Liwa al-Haqq Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria Allied groups Jabhat Ansar al-Din Ansar al-Sham Caucasus Emirate Ajnad al-Kavkaz Junud al Makhdi Rojava (SDF) Rojava government Democratic Union Party Kurdish National Council Smaller political groups SDF groups People's Protection Units Women's Protection Units Al-Sanadid Forces Syriac Military Council Army of Revolutionaries Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa Al-Nukhbat Brigade Free Officers Union SDF Military Councils ISIL Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Military of ISIL Jamaat Bayt al-Maqdis al-Islamiya Dokumacılar Allied groups Khalid ibn al-Walid Army
People Ammar Abdulhamid Ali al-Abdallah Adnan al-Aroor al-Assad family Bashar Maher Rifaat Rami Makhlouf Hafez Makhlouf Riad al-Asaad Anwar al-Bunni Fahd Jassem al-Freij Haitham al-Maleh Moaz al-Khatib Kamal al-Labwani Hamza al-Khateeb Tal al-Mallohi Fida al-Sayed Riad al-Turk Khaled Khoja Ammar al-Qurabi Suheir Atassi Ali Sadreddine Al-Bayanouni Aref Dalila Farid Ghadry Burhan Ghalioun Razan Ghazzawi Ghassan Hitto Salim Idris Randa Kassis Abdul Halim Khaddam Michel Kilo Bassma Kodmani Ali Habib Mahmud Ali Mahmoud Othman Ibrahim Qashoush Dawoud Rajiha Yassin al-Haj Saleh Bouthaina Shaaban Adib Shishakly Abdulbaset Sieda Riad Seif Fadwa Soliman Mohamad Anas Haitham Soueid Yaser Tabbara Razan Zaitouneh Rami Jarrah Abdurrahman Mustafa
Issues Peace process Related topics Issues Casualties Chemical weapons Cities and towns Damaged heritage sites Foreign involvement Human rights violations Humanitarian aid International reactions International demonstrations and protests Massacres Refugees (European migrant crisis) Sectarianism and minorities Spillover into Lebanon Syrian reactions Peace process Arab League monitors Friends of Syria Group Kofi Annan peace plan UN Supervision Mission Lakhdar Brahimi peace plan U.S.–Russia peace proposals on Syria 39th G8 summit UN Security Council Resolution 2118 Geneva II Conference 2015 Zabadani cease-fire agreement 2015 Vienna talks 2016 Geneva talks Related topics 2014 Syrian detainee report Exclusive mandate Fourth Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference International recognition of the Syrian National Council Syria Files Syrian media coverage The Return to Homs Silvered Water, Syria Self-Portrait Sunnistan
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Coordinates: 35°57′00″N 39°01′00″E / 35.9500°N 39.0167°E / 35.9500; 39.0167