The clashes come on the tenth day of the SDF’s second stage of their Wrath of Euphrates operation to liberate ISIS’ stronghold of Raqqa. Their forces have reached the Euphrates and retaken a large area northwest of Raqqa, they announced on Tuesday.
“During the first 10 days in the second stage in the Operation Wrath of Euphrates, which was launched from the directions of Qadiriyê and Kerdoşan villages with the goal of liberating western Raqqa, fighters have liberated 97 villages, dozens of hamlets and strategic hills in a total area of 1300 square kilometers,” said spokesperson Jihan Sheikh Ahmad in a press briefing.
Ahmed added that “96 ISIS members were killed in clashes and 7 others were captured and taken captive, including one gang member who surrendered together with his family.”
The SDF have also suffered casualties during the offensive – 9 fighters were killed and 12 were wounded, Ahmad stated.
The Kurdish-led coalition of forces with a strong contingent from Raqqa itself is carrying out the offensive with backing from the US-led coalition.
In the ten days of fighting, they have defused as many as 550 mines planted by ISIS and seized a large quantity of arms.
The SDF warned civilians eager to return to their homes that some locations have yet to be cleared and advised them “to stay away from areas occupied by ISIS gangs."
In the first phase of the campaign, the SDF had liberated 50 villages and 50 farms, "plus they liberated 150 families and killed 150 ISIS gangsters, and liberated 550 square kilometres of territory."
The military operation to retake the Syrian city of Raqqa from ISIS, ousting the extremist group from their de facto capital, was launched in early November on two fronts north of the city, from the towns of Saluq and Ayn Issa, by a coalition of forces fighting under the SDF flag.
The offensive began with 9 brigades, including Kurdish forces, Christians, Turkmens, and many Arab brigades from the Raqqa area, but has since grown as more recruits have completed training and joined the force.
