Raqqa offensive (2016–present)

Raqqa offensive (November 2016–present)

Part of the Syrian Civil War,
the Syrian Kurdish–Islamist conflict (2013–present), and
the American-led intervention in Syria

Map showing the SDF advances

Date	6 November 2016 – present (3 months, 2 weeks and 6 days)
Location	Raqqa Governorate, Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria 35°57′00″N 39°01′00″E / 35.9500°N 39.0167°E / 35.9500; 39.0167Coordinates: 35°57′00″N 39°01′00″E / 35.9500°N 39.0167°E / 35.9500; 39.0167
Status	Ongoing The SDF capture more than 236 villages, hamlets and strategic hills, two water and power stations The SDF, after latest advances, are now at a distance of 5 km from the ISIL capital city of Ar-Raqqah
Territorial changes	The SDF capture more than 3,200 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi) of territory from ISIL during the first and second phases of the offensive

Belligerents

Syrian Democratic Forces
Self Defence Forces (HXP)
Leftist/Anarchist volunteers
CJTF–OIR

Russia

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

Commanders and leaders

Rojda Felat
(leading YPJ commander)
Kino Gabriel
(MFS commander)
Fayad Ghanim
(Raqqa Hawks Brigade commander)
Abu Issa
(Jabhat Thuwar al-Raqqa chief commander)
Muhedi Jayila
(Elite Forces commander)
Bandar al-Humaydi
(Al-Sanadid Forces military chief commander)
Siyamend Welat
(HXP chief commander)
Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend
(CJTF–OIR chief commander)

For other anti-ISIL commanders, see order of battle

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (WIA)
(Leader of ISIL)
Abu Jandal al-Kuwaiti †
(leading ISIL commander for Raqqa defenses, c. 11–26 December)
Abu Saraqeb al-Maghribi
(Head of security in Al-Thawrah)
Abu Jandal al-Masri
(Chief of Information in Raqqa)
Abu Muhammad al-Jazrawi
(Chief of Hisba)
Mahmoud al-Isawi †
(ISIL proganganda chief)
Abd al-Basit al-Iraqi †
(ISIL commander of Middle East external networks)
Zainuri Kamaruddin †
(Katibah Nusantara commander)

For other ISIL commanders, see order of battle

Units involved

See anti-ISIL forces order of battle

See ISIL order of battle

Strength

30,000+ SDF fighters(70% Arab acc. to the SDF)

25,000 YPG & YPJ fighters (pro-opposition estimate)
- 1,000 female Arab volunteers
- c. 75+ Western Leftist/Anarchist volunteers
1,000 Raqqa Hawks fighters
150 Northern Sun Battalion fighters
3,000 Elite Forces fighters
2,000 Al-Sanadid fighters
3,250 local village militiamen

500 HXP volunteers
500 American special forces (support role)

Several Tupolev Tu-95 bombers

"Tens of thousands of fighters"(estimate by Western SDF volunteers)

Raqqa city: c. 5,000 fighters
Large number of reinforcements from Mosul and al-Bab
- 200 Iraqi reinforcements
Unknown number of child soldiers

Unknown number of UAVs (drones)

Casualties and losses

112+ killed

6 killed

1 killed
1 killed

232+ killed, 30+ wounded, 15 armored vehicles lost (ISIL claim)

569 killed and 18 captured (SDF claim)

62 civilians killed
5,000+ displaced

Ongoing

Syrian Democratic Forces
Self Defence Forces (HXP)
Leftist/Anarchist volunteers
CJTF–OIR

...
Wikipedia