Operation Featherweight: Month 39, Week 2, Day 5.

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.

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.

As of July 24th (24/7/17) the SDF had taken up positions around 25km (15 miles) south-east of Raqqa roughly at the northern outskirts of the town of Dalhah.

The SDF's western axis entered the Raqqa 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.

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.

On September 2nd (2/9/17) the SDF's succeeded in fully liberating the Old City district.

While fighting in the Shahada district the SDF's western axis entered the an-Nadah district on June 28th (28/6/17).

This sits directly north of the Karim district, south of the al-Bayrd district and directly east of the Hattin district. Although not particularly wide the an-Nadah district is quite long stretching almost from the outskirts of Raqqa to the Hanah district at the centre.

Sitting between the Old City district to the east and the an-Nadah and al-Moroor districts to the east you have an area which is considered 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 August 28th (28/8/17) the SDF's western axis pushed up from the Shahada district to liberate the Children's Hospital complex.

This sits on the junction between the Shahada and al-Moroor districts and the Security Box. It is one of the landmarks which make what is considered to be ISIL's main headquarters in Raqqa having long been used as a military base and command centre by the group.

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

This allowed the SDF 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 also allowed them to divide the  al-Moroor and Darayeh districts from the an-Nadah district.

That represented a significant strategic victory for the SDF. It shifted the dynamic from ISIL trying to defend one relatively large area into forcing them to try and defend several smaller areas all cut off from one another.

On September 6th (6/9/17) the SDF's western axis liberated the Court House and Criminal Security complex.

This is another of the key landmarks within what is considered ISIL's main headquarters in Raqqa. It sits between where the an-Nadah and al-Moroor districts meet.

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

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

With the ISIL positions in the al-Moroor and Darayeh districts having being cut of the Amin and an-Nadah districts respectively they quickly collapsed. The Darayeh district was fully liberated by the SDF on September 8th (8/9/17) while al-Moroor was fully liberated on September 10th (10/9/17).

The liberation of the Court House and Criminal Security complex placed the SDF's western axis within 100 metres/yards of the National Hospital complex. This very large facility is one of the key landmarks marking what is considered to be ISIL's headquarters within Raqqa.

On September 11th (11/9/17) launched an operation to liberate the National Hospital complex. This was successfully completed on September 13th (23/9/17).

Having liberated the National Hospital complex the SDF's western axis then set about trying to force their way through the Amin district in an effort to link up with the eastern axis in the Old City district. This is the area including the April 7th Park, the Children's Gardens and the Harun al-Rashid School.

While the SDF's western axis was pushing east the SDF's eastern axis was pushing north from the Hisham Abdulmalik district into the al-Baytra district.

On September 12th (12/9/17) they liberated the Governate Building. They then proceeded to attempt to advance the 300-400 metres/yards or roughly one city block from the Governate Building to the Harun al-Rashid Gardens.

It would seem that ISIL's defensive plans were based on the idea that the SDF would attack from the north via the Division 17 base.

As a result they placed the bulk of their forces in the al-Ba'ath, Ramilah, al-Thawrah, Hurriyah and al-Wahdah between the Division 17 base and what seems to be their main headquarters.

Obviously the SDF in fact attacked from the west and east. With what is considered ISIL's main headquarters in Raqqa under threat from the west, south and east they have been forced to pull their forces back from the north to defend the centre.

On September 20th (20/9/17) this triggered a massive collapse in ISIL's defences in the east and north-east of the city.

In the space of a day the SDF's eastern axis were able to fully liberate the al-Rawdah district and the Ramilah district which sits to its north.

They were also able to liberate the Grain Storage area which sits to the north of al-Thawrah district and east of the Railway Depot/Station.

Amid ISIL's collapse in the north-east of the city the SDF's eastern axis have continued their advance north from the Governate Building.

In quick succession they liberated the Harun al-Rashid Gardens and the Air Force Intelligence building directly to its north. By September 25th (25/9/17) they had advanced through the security area around the Council building to the Naem Roundabout.

Having liberated the area around April 7th Park, the Children's Gardens and the Harun al-Rashid School the SDF's western axis have also advanced north.

On September 23rd (23/9/17) they liberated the Al Firdous Mosque north-west, across the road from the Children's Garden. On September 25th (25/9/17) they liberated the al-Tawleed Hospital complex directly to the east of the Children's Gardens.

The al-Tawleed Hospital complex sits on the Naem Roundabout. It's liberation marks the unification of the SDF's western and eastern axis.

Having united the western and eastern axis' the SDF have continued to advance on the remaining ISIL positions in an-Nahdah district from both the north-west and south-east.

On September 25th (25/9/17) they liberated the Imam Nawawi Mosque in the centre of the district. This marked the liberation of all of an-Nahdah district.

With an-Nahdah district liberated the SDF have begun to press into al-Wahdah district directly to north-east. They are currently battling ISIL around the White Garden area.

At the same time the SDF have advanced into al-Wahdah district from the Naem roundabout at the south-eastern tip of the district.

On Wednesday (27/9/17) they liberated the Football stadium which was the most northerly landmark in what is considered ISIL's main headquarters in Raqqa. They are now advancing to the White Garden area via Swan Garden area.

As a result we can now say that what was ISIL's main headquarters in Raqqa are now completely under the control of the SDF.

At the same time the SDF's northern axis has ended it's holding pattern. It has now advanced down from the Division 17 base liberating the al-Ba'ath district and the Railway depot/Station.

This limits ISIL to just three main districts within Raqqa; al-Thawrah, Hurriyah and parts of al-Wahdah.

16:55 on 29/9/17 (UK date).