Northern Raqqa offensive

{{Infobox military conflict

|conflict = Northern Raqqa offensive (2016)

|partof = the American-led intervention in Syria, the international military intervention against ISIL, the Rojava–Islamist conflict, and the Syrian Civil War

|image =

|caption =

|date = 21–30 May 2016
({{Age in months, weeks and days|month1=05|day1=21|year1=2016|month2=05|day2=30|year2=2016}})

|place = Northern Raqqa Governorate, Syria

|coordinates = {{coord|35.9500|N|39.0167|E|source:wikidata|display=inline,title}}

|territory =

|result = Offensive stalled{{cite web|url=http://www.thenational.ae/world/middle-east/anti-isil-coalition-closes-in-on-manbij#page1|title=Syrian rebels on outskirts of ISIL-held Manbij in north|work=The National|date=8 June 2016|access-date=8 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608150426/http://www.thenational.ae/world/middle-east/anti-isil-coalition-closes-in-on-manbij#page1|archive-date=8 June 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/06/10/report-from-the-front-isis-crumbling-in-key-city-on-turkish-border.html|title=Report From the Front: ISIS Crumbling in Key City on Turkish Border|first=Wladimir van|last=Wilgenburg|date=10 June 2016|work=The Daily Beast}}

The SDF liberates 23 villages and farms{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/2016/05/31/%d9%82%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%b3%d9%88%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a7-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%af%d9%8a%d9%85%d9%82%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%b7%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%af%d9%85-%d9%86%d8%ad%d9%88-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b7%d8%a8-2/|title=قوات سوريا الديمقراطية تتقدم نحو الطبقة وتسيطر على 12 قرية ومزرعة وترفع عدد قتلى تنظيم "الدولة الإسلامية" إلى نحو 80|last=Editor3|publisher=Syrian Observatory on Human rights}}
The SDF shifts its focus to the Northern Aleppo Province
The Syrian Arab Army launches its own Raqqa offensive

|status =

|combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}} Syrian Democratic Forces
{{flagicon image|Seal of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.svg|border=no}} CJTF–OIR

|combatant2 = {{flag|Islamic State}}

|commander1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}}{{flagicon image|YPJ_Flag.svg|border=no}} Rojda Felat (YPJ commander)

{{flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}}{{flagicon|Assyria}} Nuri Mahmoud (MFS commander){{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-new-coalition-to-destroy-the-islamic-state/2016/05/22/54d9b466-2036-11e6-aa84-42391ba52c91_story.html?postshare=2361463990501453&tid=ss_tw|title=The new coalition to destroy the Islamic State|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=22 May 2016}}

|commander2 = {{flagdeco|Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|size=23px}} Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (Leader of ISIL)

|units1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}} Syrian Democratic Forces

{{flagicon image|People's Protection Units Flag.svg|border=no}} People's Protection Units (YPG, the leading group)
{{flagicon image|YPJ_Flag.svg|border=no}} Women's Protection Units (YPJ)
{{flagicon image|Flag of Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa.svg}} Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/us-allies-in-flight-against-is/3343560.html|title=Who Are US Allies in Fight Against Islamic State?|publisher=Voice of America|date=24 May 2016}}
{{flagicon image|Flag of Jaysh al-Thuwar.svg}} Army of Revolutionaries{{cite web|url=http://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/what-has-happened-during-the-operation-liberate-north-raqqa|title=What has happened during the Operation Liberate North Raqqa?|work=ANF News|date=26 May 2016}}
Northern Sun Battalion
Liwa Jund Al Haramayn
Euphrates Martyrs Battalion
Free Jarabulus Battalion
{{flagicon image|}} Seljuq Brigade
Jabhat al-Akrad
{{flagicon image|Flag of al-Sanadid Forces.svg}} Al-Sanadid Forces
Syriac Military Council (MFS){{cite tweet |user= SyriacMFS|number= 735350182129340417|date= 24 May 2016|title= PRESS RELEASE 24.05.2016: Northern Raqqa liberation campaign}}
Bethnahrin Women Protection Forces

{{flagicon image|United States Special Operations Command Insignia.svg|border=no}} United States special operations forces{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/isis/1.721747|title=IN PHOTOS: U.S. Special Forces operating against ISIS in Syria's Raqqa|work=Haaretz|date=26 May 2016}}

|units2 = {{flagicon|ISIL}} Military of ISIL

|strength1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}} 12,000-30,000 fighters"Rakka Operasyonu ve Yankılar". 29 Mayıs 2016 tarihinde kaynağından arşivlendi. Erişim tarihi: 29 Mayıs 2016.

|strength2 = {{flagicon|ISIS}} 5,000–8,000 fighters (inside Raqqa city){{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-36371226|title=Syria conflict: Kurds launch campaign north of IS-held Raqqa|work=BBC|date=25 May 2016}}

|casualties1 = 18 SDF fighters killed
1 US soldier wounded{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-offensive-idUSKCN0YN377|title=Exclusive: U.S.-backed Syria forces launch offensive for Manbij pocket - U.S. officials|date=1 June 2016|publisher=Reuters}}

|casualties2 = 79 killed{{cite web|url=http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/173305/isil-loses-ground-to-kurd-led-fighters-in-syria|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603102955/http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/173305/isil-loses-ground-to-kurd-led-fighters-in-syria|url-status=usurped|archive-date=3 June 2016|title=ISIL loses ground to Kurd-led fighters in Syria |work=World Bulletin}}

|casualties3 = 300,000 civilians displaced{{cite web|url=http://www.dailysabah.com/syrian-crisis/2016/05/26/as-us-ypg-dominated-sdf-hit-raqqa-300000-syrians-flee|title=As US, YPG-dominated SDF hit Raqqa, 300,000 Syrians flee|date=26 May 2016|work=DailySabah|access-date=28 May 2016}}

|notes =

|campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Rojava Revolution}}{{Campaignbox Syrian Civil War}}

}}

The Northern Raqqa offensive was a 2016 military offensive launched by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in northern Raqqa Governorate, in order to prepare for a future attack on the city of Raqqa. The offensive was launched in coordination with airstrikes by the US-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.{{cite web|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-syria-raqqa-idINKCN0YF2G3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160525122002/http://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-syria-raqqa-idINKCN0YF2G3|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 May 2016|title=U.S.-backed Syrian alliance launches new attack near Islamic State capital|publisher=Reuters|date=24 May 2016}} After 30 May, the offensive stalled, as the SDF shifted its focus and resources to another operation in the northern Aleppo Province.

Background

On 1 April 2016, Democratic Union Party (PYD) leader Salih Muslim stated that Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) forces were preparing with the US-led coalition to launch an offensive on Raqqa.{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/kurdish-fighters-gather-offensive-capture-raqqa-city-pyd-leader/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401195158/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/kurdish-fighters-gather-offensive-capture-raqqa-city-pyd-leader/|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 April 2016|title=Kurdish fighters gather for offensive to capture Raqqa city – PYD leader|author=Chris Tomson|date=1 April 2016|work=Al-Masdar News}}

U.S. Central Command Commander General Joseph L. Votel, the highest-ranking U.S. military official to visit Syria since the war erupted in 2011, came to Northern Syria in May 2016.{{cite news|url=http://in.mobile.reuters.com/article/idINKCN0YF2G3?irpc=932|title=U.S.-backed Syrian alliance launches new attack near Islamic State capital|date=24 May 2016 |work=Reuters}}

Kurdish forces established a stronghold about 37 kilometers (23 miles) north of Raqqa.{{cite web|url=http://en.alalam.ir/news/1820266|title=Ahead of Kurdish Offensive, ISIS Bans Residents for Leaving Raqqa City}} ISIL reportedly used the residents of Raqqa as human shields, preventing them from leaving the city.

According to Joshua Walker of the German Marshall Fund, Raqqa could be "the beginning of the end" for ISIL, and the most important offensive since Kobani in 2015.

Preparations

On 20 May the US-led coalition dropped leaflets on the city, encouraging the residents to leave.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/20/coalition-drops-leaflets-over-raqqa-telling-residents-to-flee-ah/|title=Coalition drops leaflets over Raqqa telling residents to flee ahead of offensive|work=The Telegraph|date=20 May 2016}}

The SDF is led and dominated by YPG forces, which generally consist of Kurds. To avoid ethnic tensions with Raqqa's majority Arab population, US special forces trained more than 200 Arab fighters to take part in the offensive.

The announcement for the offensive was made on 24 May,{{cite web|url=https://www.stratfor.com/analysis/retaking-raqqa-islamic-state|title=Retaking Raqqa From the Islamic State|publisher=Stratfor|date=24 May 2016}} when the 30,000-strong{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/isis-using-civilians-human-shields-raqqa-us-backed-kurdish-offensive-launched-1561822|title=Isis using 'civilians as human shields' in Raqqa as US-backed Kurdish offensive launched|work=International Business Times UK|date=24 May 2016 }} SDF announced the offensive, "with participation from all SDF units",{{cite web|url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/powerbrokers-scramble-save-shaky-ceasefire-syria-1947499113|title=Kurd-Arab alliance launches offensive to 'liberate' IS-held Raqqa|work=Middle East Eye}} mobilising thousands of fighters in the countryside north of Raqqa, with the aim of expelling ISIL fighters from north of al-Raqqa.{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/05/syria-raqqa-sdf-160524134816769.html|title=Kurdish-led SDF launches offensive on Syria's Raqqa|publisher=Al Jazeera}}

The US-led coalition stated that it would provide air support for the offensive. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov announced that his country was ready to coordinate with U.S. and Kurdish forces in the offensive, but the U.S., distrustful of the Russian establishment, turned down the offer.{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2016/05/united-states-work-sdf-forces-retake-raqqa-not-russia/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528230100/http://aranews.net/2016/05/united-states-work-sdf-forces-retake-raqqa-not-russia/|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 May 2016|title=US refuses to cooperate with Russia in Raqqa campaign, says its forces only work with SDF in anti-ISIS operations|publisher=ARA News|date=26 May 2016}}

The offensive

On 21 May 2016 the SDF, led by the YPG, captured the village of al-Hishah, near the town of Ayn Issa in the northern countryside from ISIL, killing eight fighters.{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2016/05/syrian-democratic-forces-launch-battle-raqqa/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522134504/http://aranews.net/2016/05/syrian-democratic-forces-launch-battle-raqqa/|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 May 2016|title=US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces expel ISIS from village near Raqqa|publisher=ARA News|date=21 May 2016}} In the following days additional SDF fighters were mobilized from Tell Abyad to Ayn Issa. ISIL fighters in Raqqa responded by creating defensive lines and tunnels in the city. seven Coalition airstrikes on ISIL positions were confirmed on 23 May.{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2016/05/syrian-democratic-forces-launch-operation-raqqa-countryside/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601130623/http://aranews.net/2016/05/syrian-democratic-forces-launch-operation-raqqa-countryside/|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 June 2016|title=Syrian Democratic Forces launch operation for Raqqa countryside|publisher=ARA News|date=25 May 2016}} On 25 May, the SDF took control of the Namrodia and Matmashraja villages near Ayn Issa.{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/05/syria-kurdish-offensive-raqqa-160525202514850.html|title=Syria: Kurdish-led forces advance in Raqqa offensive|date=26 May 2016|publisher=Al-Jazeera|access-date=26 May 2016}}

On 26 May, the SDF reported new gains. SDF forces took the villages of Qartaja, al-Fastah, Indebin and Matmasraja. They had advanced some 6 km into IS-held lands north of Raqqa,{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2016/05/western-backed-sdf-troops-report-new-gains-anti-isis-campaign-north-raqqa/|title=Western-backed SDF troops report new gains in anti-ISIS campaign north Raqqa|publisher=ARA News|access-date=28 May 2016|archive-date=3 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703111733/http://aranews.net/2016/05/western-backed-sdf-troops-report-new-gains-anti-isis-campaign-north-raqqa/|url-status=dead}} and killed at least 31 ISIL fighters.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/syriahroe/posts/873682196073453|title=al-Raqqa province: Military operations... - Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - Facebook|website=Facebook |access-date=28 May 2016}} By 30 May, ISIL had redeployed 2,000 to 3,000 militants to Raqqa, from Mosul and other areas controlled by ISIL.{{cn|date=November 2020}} It was also reported that ISIL's use of civilians as human shields was slowing down the SDF advance.{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2016/05/islamic-state-using-civilians-human-shields-impede-sdf-advance-raqqa/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529065838/http://aranews.net/2016/05/islamic-state-using-civilians-human-shields-impede-sdf-advance-raqqa/|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 May 2016|title=Islamic State using civilians as human shields to impede SDF advance in Raqqa |date=30 May 2016|publisher=ARA News}} Later on the same day, the SDF captured an additional nine villages from ISIL, in the northern countryside of Raqqa.{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2016/05/kurdish-led-sdf-troops-liberate-new-areas-isis-northern-raqqa/|title=Kurdish-led SDF troops liberate nine villages from ISIS northern Raqqa|date=31 May 2016|publisher=ARA News|access-date=10 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603154217/http://aranews.net/2016/05/kurdish-led-sdf-troops-liberate-new-areas-isis-northern-raqqa/|archive-date=3 June 2016|url-status=dead}}

Aftermath

On 3 June 2016, a YPG unit infiltrated into a detention center run by ISIS in Raqqa city and raided it, rescuing a number of prisoners, including a Yezidi family.{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2016/06/kurdish-ypg-forces-release-yezidi-family-isis-detention-raqqa/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606064543/http://aranews.net/2016/06/kurdish-ypg-forces-release-yezidi-family-isis-detention-raqqa/|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 June 2016|title=Kurdish YPG forces release Yezidi family from ISIS detention in Raqqa |date=4 June 2016|publisher=ARA News}}