Operation Featherweight: Month 38, Week 3, Day 7.

On November 6th 2016 (6/11/17) the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF/QSD) launched an operation to liberate the Syrian city of Raqqa from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

The SDF are a coalition of Kurdish, Christian, Turkmen and Arab forces. The Arab element which makes up around 50% of the coalition is made up of both fragments of the long defunct Free Syrian Army (FSA) and Arab tribes indigenous to northern Syria.

The SDF is supported by the US-led coalition Combined Joint Task Force: Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTFOIR).

The city of Raqqa sits on the Euphrates River. It is located around 200km (120 miles) west of Syria's border with Iraq and around 100km (60 miles) south of Syria's border with Turkey. It has functioned as ISIL's de facto capital in Syria.

The first stage of the SDF's operation was to advance on Raqqa from three directions; North, West and East. This was completed on March 19th 2017 (19/3/17) with the SDF taking up positions at al-Karamah - around 30km (20 miles) south-east of Raqqa.

On March 22nd (22/3/17) the SDF launched an operation to liberate the town of Tabqa and the adjoining Tabqa Dam which forms Lake Assad out of the Euphrates River. This operation was completed on May 11th (11/5/17) giving the SDF control of positions on the southern banks of the Euphrates some 40km (25 miles) west of Raqqa.

On June 6th (6/6/17) the operation to liberate Raqqa itself was begun.

This saw the SDF enter Raqqa in three directions; North, West and East. At the same time the SDF swept west-to-east from Tabqa along the southern bank of the Euphrates in order to isolate Raqqa from the main body of Syria.

The SDF's northern axis task was to liberate the former Syrian military - Division 17 - base to the north of the city. This task was completed on or around August 1st (1/8/17). Since then the northern axis has maintained a holding pattern.

The SDF's western axis entered the city via the Jazra suburb on June 6th (6/6/17).  By July 3rd (3/7/17) the western axis had succeeded in completely liberating the Sabahiya, Romaniyah, al-Qadisiyyah and al-Hattin districts and parts of the an-Nadah and al-Baryd districts. These all sit on the western outskirts of Raqqa.

The SDF's eastern axis began by entering the Mashlab district at the most south-easterly tip of Raqqa on June 6th (6/6/17). By June 17th (17/6/17) it had succeeded in liberating the Mashlab, al-Sinaa and Bitani districts. These all sit on the eastern outskirts of Raqqa.

On July 2nd (2/7/17) the eastern axis entered the Hisham Abdulmalik district at the very south of Raqqa on the banks of the Euphrates. Having liberated the Yarmouk district on July 17th (17/7/17) the western axis entered the Shahada district. This also sits at the very south of Raqqa directly adjacent to the Hisham Abdulmalik district.

On August 10th (10/8/17) the SDF were able to declare both the Hisham Abdulmalik and Shahada districts fully liberated. That limited ISIL to just 16 districts in the north and centre of the city.

Before entering the Hisham Abdulmalik district the SDF's eastern axis entered the al-Rawdah district on June 28th (28/6/17). This sits directly north-west of the Bitani district and directly north of the Old City district.

Alongside fighting in the Hisham Abdulmalik and al-Rawdah districts the eastern axis also entered the Old City district of Raqqa on July 6th (6/7/17). This sits directly west of the al-Sinaa and Bitani districts and directly north of the Hisham Abdulmalik district.

On September 2nd (2/9/17) the SDF liberated the Mansur neighbourhood. This was the last of the Old City's four neighbourhoods to be liberated and marked to complete liberation of the Old City. That liberation included the freeing of the Great Mosque of Raqqa which was built under the Abbasid Empire in the 8th Century.

Directly to the west of the Old City district you have what is believed to be ISIL's main headquarters within Raqqa.

This stretches across several districts including al-Baytra, Hanah, Amin and what is known as the Security Box. It is perhaps better defined by landmarks such as Harun al-Rashid Gardens, April 7th Park, the National Hospital and the football stadium.

On June 28th (28/6/17) the SDF's western axis entered the an-Nadah district. This sits directly south of the al-Bayrd district and directly east of the Hattin district.

Although not particularly wide the an-Nadah district is quite long. It stretches almost from the western outskirts of Raqqa down to the Hanah district and the National Hospital.

On August 28th (28/8/17) the SDF's western axis scored a significant strategic victory. Pushing north from the Shahada district they liberated the Children's Hospital complex. A location they first reached from the west on July 24th (24/7/17).

Located at the junction between the Shahada and al-Moroor districts and the Security Box the Children's Hospital complex was one of the key landmarks on the outskirts of what is believed to be ISIL's main headquarters within Raqqa. It had long been used by the group as a military base and command centre.

Having liberated the Children's Hospital complex the SDF have continued to advance north across the al-Moroor district to where it meets the al-Nadah district. They have then advanced along the road separating the al-Moroor and al-Nadah districts to the liberated Karim district.

This has allowed them to divide the al-Moroor and Darayeh districts from the Amin district which is at the centred of what is believed to be ISIL's main headquarters in Raqqa. It has also allowed them to divide the al-Moroor and Darayeh districts from the al-Nadah district.

On Wednesday (6/9/17) the SDF scored another strategic victory by liberating the Court House and Criminal Security complex. Another of the key landmarks of the edge of what is believed to be ISIL's main headquarters within Raqqa this is located where al-Nadah district meets al-Moroor district. It is located less than 100metres/yards from the National Hospital complex.

Having liberated the Court House complex the SDF have continued to push north. Yesterday (7/9/17) they liberated the al-Tishah neighbourhood.

This is the most southerly neighbourhood within the al-Nadah district. It's liberation traps any remaining fighters within the district between twin SDF advances from the north and south.

Today (8/9/17) there are unconfirmed reports that the SDF have fully liberated the Darayeh district.

On June 29th (29/6/17) the SDF's west-to-east southern sweep reached the eastern outskirts of Raqqa. This meant that the city was completely cut-off from the main body of Syria.

On July 7th (7/7/17) this southern sweep liberated the village Ukayrishah some 5km (9 miles) south-east of Raqqa. As of July 24th (24/7/17) it had secured positions some 10km (6 miles) south-east of Ukayrishah and roughly 25km (15 miles) south-east of Raqqa.

On December 12th 2016 (12/12/16) the Syrians themselves liberated the city of Aleppo from the Al Qaeda-led, ISIL allied Army of Conquest/Jaish al-Fatah (JAF) coalition. Since then the Syrians have been advancing east across Aleppo Province liberating it from ISIL.

On June 4th (4/6/17) the Syrians liberated the town of Maskanah which sits on the banks of Lake Assad around 90km (50 miles) west of Raqqa. Having liberated Maskanah - the last ISIL held town in Aleppo Province - the Syrians skirted around the SDF's operations in Tabqa and Raqqa.

On July 30th (30/7/17) the Syrians liberated the town of Dalhah from ISIL. Dalhah sits around 25km (15 miles) south-east of Raqqa adjacent to Ukayrishah. It's liberation by the Syrians prevents the SDF from advancing further east along the southern banks of the Euphrates.

While they've been advancing east across Aleppo Province the Syrians have also been advancing across southern Syria. Firstly they liberated some  280km (170 miles) between the capital Damascus and al-Tanf on Syria's border with Iraq.

Having reached al-Tanf on June 9th (9/6/17) they then advanced 180km (110 miles) north-west to the city of Palmyra. Sitting almost at the exact centre of Syria Palmyra was liberated from ISIL by the Syrians in March 2017.

On August 6th (6/8/17) the Syrian forces from Palmyra and Dalhah converged on the town of as-Suknah. This sits around 130km (75 miles) south of Raqqa, 65km (40 miles) north-east of Palmyra and was the last ISIL held town in Homs Province.

From as-Suknah the Syrians objective has been to advance on the city of Deir-ez-Zour. This sits around 120km (70 miles) south-east of Raqqa and around 120km (70 miles) north-east of as-Suknah.

Since March 2014 Syrian forces have been totally besieged in Deir-ez-Zour.

To the west they have been limited to an area stretching from their 137th Brigade base into the south-west of the city up to the Cemetery area. To the east they have been restricted to an area stretching from the Airport complex into the south-east of the city up to the al-Rasafah district.

Following several days of fighting the Syrians on Monday (4/9/17) liberated the Bishri Mountains which sit between as-Suknah and Deir-ez-Zour City. This placed them within just 4km (2.5 miles) of the 137th Brigade base.

At dawn (local) on Tuesday (5/9/17) the Russian frigate Admiral Essen located in the Mediterranean Sea fired a salvo of Kalibr Cruise-type missiles on ISIL positions between Deir-ez-Zour and the Bishri Mountains. This smashed through those ISIL defences allowing Syrian ground forces to advancing into the 137th Brigade base breaking the siege.

The Syrians still need to clear ISIL fighters from the pocket between Dalhah and Deir-ez-Zour on the southern bank of the Euphrates. They also need to break the siege on their positions in the east of Deir-ez-Zour City.

However this is a significant strategic victory by the Syrians. Yesterday (7/9/17) saw the first convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid to arrive in the city in more than three years. Syrian soldiers and civilians in Deir-ez-Zour are overjoyed.

What has allowed the Syrians to focus their resources on ISIL is the Astana Process. This was established following the liberation of Aleppo City and sees Russia, Syria, Turkey and Iran work to find solutions to the conflict which has raged in Syria since 2011.

At the fifth round of meetings in the Astana Process on May 3rd (3/5/17) and May 5th (5/5/17) agreement was reached to create four zones within Syria dubbed; "The Astana Zones." This saw fighting between the Syrians and the Army of Conquest suspended in four proposed areas of Syria.

The first zone to be established was the areas of Deraa and Quneitra Provinces along Syria's borders with Israel and Jordan. Fighting in that area has periodically caused artillery and rocket fire to stray into Israel. This has prompted Israel to conduct airstrikes in retaliation.

The last thing anybody wanted was for Israel to act unilaterally within what is an already extremely crowded and complex battle space. Therefore all parties have been happy for a ceasefire to take effect in that area in order to remove the threat of further Israeli involvement in the conflict.

Apart from the stray fire hitting its territory Israel has also been concerned by the presence of the Lebanese group Hezbollah who have been fighting alongside the Syrians at Syria's request.

In 1982 Israel intervened in the civil war in Lebanon which neighbours both Israel and Syria. This led to the creation of Hezbollah in 1985 as a way to counter Israeli interference in Lebanon and the wider region. Since then Hezbollah and Israel have periodically attacked each other. Most notably in the 2006 Lebanon War.

Israel's main concern is that Hezbollah's involvement in the current conflict in Syria has significantly increased the group's military capabilities. This includes them being supplied with advanced weaponry by the Syrians and more alarmingly being supplied with factory facilities to produce their own advanced weaponry.

There has been particular concern over a rumoured Hezbollah missile factory at a site adjacent to the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre at Masyaf. This is located in Syria's Hama Province around 40km (25 miles) east of the Mediterranean coast and 45km (25 miles) north of the Syria/Lebanon border.

Israel is so concerned that the missiles produced at the Masyaf factory could soon be used against them that on Monday (11/9/17) they are commencing a 10-day "Light of the Grain" military drill.

Involving thousands of reservists being mobilised this will be the largest military drill that Israel has conducted in 20 years. It is specifically to test the nation's readiness is response to Hezbollah attacks from Lebanon and Syria.

Israel has repeatedly and strongly raised its concerns about the Masyaf factory both with the Astana Parties and CJTFOIR.

On August 23rd (23/8/17) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi. There he again raised his concerns over Hezbollah in Syria.

To emphasise Netanyahu's concerns the meeting coincided with a number of Israel tanks crossing into the Syrian section of the Golan Heights. They drove around for a couple of hours before returning to Israel.

Yesterday (7/9/17) Israel's strategic patience ran out. Using stand-off weapons fired from aircraft flying over Lebanon Israel blew up the Hezbollah missile factory at Masyaf. For good measure they also blew up the Scientific Studies and Research Centre adjacent to the missile factory.

The Israeli strikes come the day after the United Nations (UN) Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Syria published its quarterly report covering the period between March and July 2017. This included the events of April 4th (4/4/17) in Khan Sheikhoun.

You may remember that on April 4th (4/4/17) reports emerged of a serious Chemical Weapons incident in the town of Khan Sheikhoun. This is located around 75km (45 miles) south of Idlib City and around 45km (30 miles) north of Hama City in the area designated; "The Sudetenland."

Led by Turkey which wishes to annex the Sudetenland many western nations immediately blamed this attack on the Syrians. On April 7th (7/4/17) the US fired 59 Tomahawk Cruise-type missiles at Syria's Shayrat airbase claiming that it had been the source of the Chemical Weapons attack.

On April 10th (10/4/17) Russia tabled a resolution at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) calling for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to visit Khan Sheikhoun to conduct an investigation to determine who was responsible. This resolution was immediately vetoed by the US, the UK and France.

The quarterly report published by the CoI on Syria on Wednesday (6/9/17) covers a range of events in Syria between March and July 2017. As part of that it covers the Khan Sheikhoun incident but does not constitute a full investigation into it.

In compiling their commentary on Khan Sheikhoun the CoI on Syria took a number of steps;

They conducted 43 interviews with people who claim to have been present in Khan Sheikhoun at the time. However they do not detail how and where these interviews were conducted or by whom.

They do though acknowledge that those interviewees are either located or have family members located in an area of Syria under occupation by Al Qaeda. Therefore they cannot be considered reliable either due to duress of political ideology.

The CoI also took receipt of tissue and other samples collected by Turkish authorities within Turkey. These were compared with other similar samples that have been collected by the Syrians at their Scientific Studies and Research Centre in Barza.

Finally and probably most reliably the CoI examined satellite imagery of Khan Sheikhoun both before and significantly after the incident. No imagery at the time or in the immediate aftermath of the incident was considered.

These steps resulted in the CoI concluding that a metal canister containing a Sarin-like substance had been exploded within Khan Sheikhoun.

This explosion was caused by a plastic explosive called "Research Department Explosive (RDX)." Sometimes known by the brandname "Semtex" this one of the most widely used plastic explosives used globally.

The CoI then declared that this metal canister was a Soviet-era KhAB 250/500 Chemical Bomb. However those bombs can be detonated in several ways. None of which use RDX or an explosive similar to it.

The CoI offered no reasoning to explain why it had rejected the scenario in which Al Qaeda had simply blown up a metal canister with a bit of Semtex.

During the period of this quarterly report one of the three members of the CoI - Switzerland's Carla del Ponte - quit complaining that too many people are committed to obstructing the work of the CoI. Despite her attempts to remove herself from this report the remaining two members of the CoI still use her name on it.

There seems to be very serious questions over whether Obama appointee Karen Koning Abuzayd can continue to represent the US on the Commission of Inquiry.

16:55 on 8/9/17 (UK date).