11-day balance sheet of SDF offensive in north Raqqa

The fourth phase of the Operation Wrath of Euphrates aiming the liberation of the Jalab Valley north of Raqqa continues in its 12th day.

The fourth phase of the Operation Wrath of Euphrates aiming the liberation of the Jalab Valley north of Raqqa continues in its 12th day. 84 ISIS members were killed and several villages and hamlets were liberated in this period.

The fourth phase of the Operation Wrath of Euphrates was launched from eastern and western directions 11 days ago to clear the remaining northern countryside and the valley of Jalab from the ISIS and to remove the last obstacles in front of SDF, to prepare for the liberation of the city of Al-Raqqa and the completion of the siege with encirclement of the ISIS gangs.

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters moved on from the village of Muezila on the eastern front and the Jabil Shair village on the western front.

ISIS gangs tried hard to obstruct the operation on the eastern front by means of suicide attacks and bomb-laden vehicles targeting Muezila and Western Misharfa villages. Despite all these attempts, SDF fighters did not cease the operation and they continued progressing. On this front, the villages of Eastern Misharfa, Rihaniyet, Bir Cerbo, Cerwa, Hetash, the hamlet of Hukumi and the town of Hazima have been liberated.

On the western front, a 25 meter wide and 9 meter long bridge was built over a water channel to enable the crossing of the SDF fighters. At the beginning of the offensive, ISIS gangs attacked the vehicles that fighters used in building the bridge, after which the fighters started constructing a bridge in another location on the second day.

SDF fighters completed the building of the bridge 5 days ago in spite of the attacks between Um-Tenek and Western Kabash villages. The fighters therewith crossed to the other side and formed a security corridor for the evacuation of displaced people from Raqqa, Mesken and Tilafer. During the same day, 10 thousand migrants were transferred to safe zones.

SDF fighters continued their operation following the evacuation of civilians, making further advances with their liberation of Um Tenek and Royan villages, and most recently the Tishrin town on the 11th day.

During 11 days of clashes, a total of 84 ISIS members, including leader Abu Sumeyya were killed and corpses of many of these remain in the areas under SDF control.

6 bomb-laden vehicles of the gangs were destroyed and 9 suicide bombers were neutralized before they reached the target.