The Operation Wrath of Euphrates launched to liberate Raqqa, one of the most important centers of the ISIS gangs, has come to an important phase. The Tabqa town, significant in Raqqa’s defense, has been mostly surrounded by Wrath of Euphrates fighters. The operation to clear Tabqa of ISIS gangs and isolate Raqqa further launched on March 21 and continues. Wrath of Euphrates Operation Room Spokesperson Cihan Shekh Ahmed spoke to ANF on the operation.

Cihan Shekh Ahmed said the following on the stage the operation has reached and its goals: “We had launched phase 3 in the Wrath of Euphrates operation. It was launched to clear the east of Raqqa of gangs, and it achieved significant results. The Karama district was cleared off gangs. This was an important outcome for the Raqqa siege. Through that, almost all eastern side of Raqqa was surrounded. Supply routes were cut and the roads that connect Raqqa, Tabqa and Aleppo came into control of our forces. In connection with this, we launched an operation to liberate the Tabqa dam over the Euphrates River. Dozens of villages around Tabqa were cleared off gangs. On the night of March 21, one branch moved in to surround Tabqa from the dam side, and another to surround it both from the air and over the dam waters. With the move, the Tabqa siege operation started very swiftly and significant advances have been achieved. Villages and hamlets to the west of Tabqa have been liberated. One of the important airspaces of Syria, the Tabqa military airport has been cleared off gangs. Now there are only two villages left between our forces and the neighborhoods of the town. These two villages will be liberated from gangs soon and the city will be completely surrounded. With Tabqa being completely surrounded, our operation will pick up even more speed.”

Wrath of Euphrates Operation Room Spokesperson said that the most important step in the operation is the liberation of the Tabqa Airport and added: “The Tabqa Airport had fallen to the ISIS gangs from the regime forces. ISIS gangs used this airport as a planning headquarters, and this place strengthened Tabqa’s defenses. The branch that approached Tabqa from the dam side, namely the northeast, cleared a significant portion of the dam off gangs. The Tabqa dam is not only a way into the city, it is also significant for the economic activity of the people in the region and it is the biggest electric production source on the Euphrates - so it was both important and it needed a sensitive approach. Our most important goal in the operation was to not damage the dam. That was achieved to a large extent. The dam is in good condition. Engineers performed controls in the liberated areas of the dam, there are no problems in the working of the dam.”

Ahmed stated that Tabqa will definitely be liberated, and added that the forces in the operation continue to tighten the circle with great morale.

“The operation to liberate Raqqa was launched on November 5 and is continuing in great strides towards its goal,” said Ahmed, and added: “Throughout the operation, we were most sensitive about the safety and security of civilians. The people who live in liberated areas receive our forces with great morale and excitement. People who are from the liberated villages or who flee ISIS control and come to the liberated areas continue their lives in areas under our forces’ control. After the operation forces clears mines and traps in the villages, they return. The people in the liberated areas also join the fighting force. In our operation against the ISIS gangs, there are a significant number of new recruits.

Right now, there are daily arrivals from Tabqa center to areas where our forces are located. The people are sick of the tyranny of the gangs and they suffer through extreme hardship to exit to the areas with the liberation forces. With this, I am calling on the people who live under ISIS tyranny and who want to be free to continue to come into the areas where the freedom fighters are located. We are in great sorrow when one person has one finger bleeding. The ISIS gangs have trampled the will of the people they control.

Our operation continues successfully. Both the people and the fighters have great morale. There is no stopping for us before Raqqa is free.”