Operation Featherweight: Month 40, Week 4, Day 2.

In the summer of 2014 the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) were at their most powerful.

They controlled large swathes of both Iraq and Syria. They'd declared themselves to be an Islamist Caliphate. Their leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to be it's Caliph and the Syrian city of Raqqa to be its capital.

ISIL's peak really occurred in May 2015 when they seized the central Syrian city of Palmyra. This placed them in control of roughly 50% of Syria and allowed them to destroy the monuments and ruins of the ancient city some of which date back to 2000 B.C.

ISIL's destruction of Palmyra was part of a wider strategy by the group. They wished to destroy anyone and anything that did not agree with their own twisted ideology.

In August of 2014 this thirst for destruction saw ISIL conduct a genocide in and around the Iraqi town of Sinjar/Shingal. Here ISIL targeted members of the Yezidi religion whom ISIL considered to be devil worshippers.

Faced with the shame of this genocide the world was finally forced to act.

The United Nations (UN) issued resolution 2170 (2014) under Chapter 7 of its charter obligating military action against ISIL and their associates. This led to the formation of a US-led international military coalition. Combined Joint Task Force: Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTFOIR).

While the international community was mobilising in the autumn of 2014 ISIL launched an attack against the Syrian city of Kobane. This sits right on the border between Syria and Turkey around 30km (20 miles) east of the Euphrates River.

Kobane was defended by the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). With scant support from CJTFOIR the YPG repelled ISIL's onslaught and finally drove them from Kobane in January 2015.

The YPG then set about driving ISIL from the area along the Syria/Turkey border between the Euphrates River in the west and Syria's border with Iraq. This was completed in July 2015 with the liberation of Tal Abyad - a border town around 45km (25 miles) east of the Euphrates.

In August 2015 the YPG had driven ISIL from the city of Hasakah. This sits around 60km (35 miles) west of the Syria/Iraq border and around 75km (45 miles) south of Syria's border with Turkey.

At the same time the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) were working to drive ISIL from Iraqi territory. With no help from CJTFOIR they liberated the city of Tikrit in April 2015. This sits in the centre of Iraq around 175km (105 miles) north of the capital Baghdad.

In February 2016 the ISF liberated the city of Ramadi. This western Iraqi city sits around 100km (60 miles) west of Baghdad.

In June 2016 the ISF liberated the city of Fallujah. This also sits in western Iraq around 50km (30 miles) west of Baghdad and 50km (30 miles) east of Ramadi.

In July 2017 the ISF liberated the city of Mosul. This sits in northern Iraq around 400km (240 miles) north of Baghdad and around 130km (80 miles) south of Iraq's border with Turkey.

The liberation of Mosul meant that ISIL were limited to just the north-east of Syria in the area around the Euphrates River basin. The exception being the Iraqi town of Qaim. This sits on the Euphrates River just 15km (9 miles) inside of Iraq.

Within north-eastern Syria there have been two distinct forces conducting multiple operations against ISIL.

One of these is the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF/QSD). This is a coalition formed by the YPG in October 2015.

Alongside the YPG the SDF is made up of Assyrian/Syriac Christian, Turkmen and Arab Muslim forces. The Arab element which makes up around 50% of the SDF is comprised of both elements of the long defunct Free Syrian Army and local tribes indigenous to north-eastern Syria.

The SDF is supported by CJTFOIR both with air power and Special Operations Forces (SOF's). The SDF also contains a small International Brigade made up of foreign volunteers.

In November 2016 the SDF launched an operation codenamed; "Wrath of Euphrates."

The first phase of this operation saw the SDF advance south from positions around 70km (45 miles) north of Raqqa. This was completed in late November with the SDF taking up positions around 25km (15 miles) north of Raqqa having liberated around 600kmsq (360 milesq).

The second phase of the operation saw the SDF advance south along the eastern bank of the Euphrates River effectively from where it entered Syria from Turkey. This was completed in January 2017 with the SDF taking up positions at Lake Assad around 55km (30 miles) west of Raqqa. In the process the SDF liberated around 3,200kmsq (1.920 milesq).

The third phase of the operation saw the SDF advance to take up positions east of Raqqa. This was completed in March 2017 with the SDF taking up positions at Karamah around 30km (20 miles) east of Raqqa. In the process the SDF liberated around 1000kmsq (600 milesq).

On March 23rd (23/3/17) the SDF launched an operation to liberate the town of Tabqa. This sits on the southern banks of the Euphrates around 50km (30 miles) west of Raqqa. The adjoining Tabqa Dam forms Lake Assad out of the river.

On May 5th (5/11/17) the SDF completed the liberation of the town of Tabqa and took control of the Tabqa Dam.

On June 6th (6/6/17) the SDF launched an operation to liberate the city of Raqqa itself. After of 133 days on intense urban fighting Raqqa was fully liberated on October 19th (19/10/17).

The liberation of Raqqa however has not been the only operation the SDF have been conducting against ISIL in the Euphrates basin in Syria. On September 9th (9/9/17) they launched a second operation codenamed; "Cizre Storm."


At around 18:20 on 9/11/17 (UK date) I will have to pick this up after dinner.

Edited at around 19:55 on 9/11/17 (UK date) to add;

Their gains in Tal Abyad, Hasakah and Raqqa have given the SDF control over a vast area of northeastern Syria. As it encompasses parts of several of Syria's provinces and is constantly growing for operational reasons this has been designated; "Shangri-La."

The only area of north-eastern Syria which Shangri-La does not encompass is a roughly 1500kmsq (860 milesq) area stretching across the Khobar River.

Roughly in the shape of a triangle this has as its tip the point where the Euphrates River enters Iraq. It's base is an imaginary line stretching between the towns of Madan and al-Shadaddi.

Madan sits on the Euphrates River roughly 70km (40 miles) south-east of Raqqa and 110km (70 miles) north-west of Mayadin. Al-Shadaddi sits on the Khobar River roughly 150km (90 miles) east of Raqqa and roughly 130km (75 miles) north of Mayadin.

The objective of the Cizre Storm operation is to advance from the Madan-Shadaddi Line, across the Khobar River to where the Euphrates River enters Iraq. This will liberate the area from ISIL and properly establish Shangri-La with the Euphrates River as its southern boundary.

Initially the Cizre Storm operation made dramatic progress. After just four days it arrived at the Industrial Zone on the outskirts of Deir-ez-Zour City on September 13th (13/9/17).

The capital of Deir-ez-Zour Province Deir-ez-Zour City is located on the Euphrates River. Roughly 65km (40 miles) south-east of Madan and 50km (30 miles) north-west of Mayadin.

This was achieved by establishing a roughly 3km (1.8 mile) wide and 55km (30 mile) deep corridor from the Madan-Shadaddi Line to the Industrial Zone. Unfortunately the operation then stalled for a full seven days.

On September 20th (20/9/17) the Cizre Storm operation received fresh impetus. The SDF established three axis breaking off from the Industrial Zone corridor to the Khobar River.

As referring to the first axis, the second axis, the third axis gets tedious I decided to designate these as; "Aisling (Ash-lean)," "Niamh (N-eve)" and "Siobhan (She-vaughn)."

The first axis; "Aisling" advanced south-east from the Industrial Zone along the banks of the Euphrates in the general direction of the town of al-Zuwaymiyah. This sits on the junction where the Khobar River meets the Euphrates River roughly 8km (5 miles) from the Industrial Zone.

The second axis; "Niamh" advanced east from the Industrial Zone corridor towards the town of as-Suwar. This sits on the banks of the Khobar River roughly 9km (5 miles) from the Industrial Zone. It is connected to the Industrial Zone by the H7 Damascus to Qamishli Highway.

The third axis; "Siobhan" advanced south from Shadaddi towards the town of Markadah. This sits on the banks of the Khobar River roughly 45km (30 miles) south of Shadaddi and roughly 35km (20 miles) north of as-Suwar.

On September 26th (26/9/17) the Niamh axis reached as-Suwar and the town was fully liberated. It then began to advance north along the banks of the Khobar towards Markadah.

On October 4th (4/10/17) the Siobhan axis reached Markadah. However rather than moving to liberate the town the SDF encircled it and began to advance south towards as-Suwar.

On October 15th (15/10/17) the Niamh and Siobhan axis' kissed just south of Markadah. Once united they went on to liberate Markadah on October 20th (20/10/17).

Meanwhile the Aisling axis advanced steadily along the banks of the Euphrates. On September 23rd (23/9/17) it liberated the Conoco gas plant at the al-Isba Oil & Gas Fields. On September 30th (30/9/17) it liberated the Jafra Oil & Gas Fields.

On or around October 10th (10/10/17) the Aisling axis reached and liberated al-Zuwaymiyah completing its advance towards the Khobar River.

On October 20th (20/10/17) the Aisling axis crossed the Khobar River quickly liberating the villages of al-Mashiqa, al-Lawziyah and Shuhayl.

On October 22nd (22/10/17) the Aisling axis had fully liberated the Omar Oil & Gas Field. Being some 160kmsq (95 milesq) in area the liberation of the Omar Oil & Gas Field now puts the SDF's Aisling axis just 40km (25 miles) from Syria's border with Iraq.

On November 5th (5/11/17) the Aisling axis liberated the Sarhit, Shudayha, Younes, Galban and Shaitat Oil & Gas Fields. These small fields sit in an area just beyond the main Omar Oil & Gas Field.

Having raced across the Khobar the Aisling axis has mainly been concentrating on securing the area along the banks of the Euphrates between the Deir-ez-Zour Industrial Zone and the Omar Oil & Gas Field.

On October 26th (26/10/17) it succeeded in liberating the village of Jadid Uqaybat. This sits around 15km (8 miles) west of where the Euphrates meets the Khobar and around 8km (5 miles) south of the Jafra Oil Field. It is significant because it is the birthplace of Amer al-Rafdan - one of the founders of ISIL.

Also on October 26th (26/10/17) the Aisling axis liberated the town of Diban. This sits on the opposite bank of the Euphrates from Mayadin around 20km (12 miles) east of where the Euphrates meets the Khobar.

On Tuesday (7/11/17) the Aisling axis began advancing on the town of Busayrah. This sits almost on a island directly where the Khobar and Euphrates Rivers meet.

On Wednesday (8/11/17) the SDF began their operation to liberate Busayrah entering the town. They also liberated the village of al-Khan which overlooks Busayrah.

Today (9/11/17) the SDF liberated al-Shahi another village which overlooks Busayrah. Efforts to liberate Busayrah itself are ongoing.

On Saturday (5/11/17) the SDF got a sharp lesson in why alongside making rapid advances it is important to secure the areas behind those advances.

A Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) attacked a camp for Internally Displaced People (IDP's) located between the Jafra and al-Isba Oil & Gas Fields. It killed at least 100 civilians.

At the time there was some suspicion - particularly amongst CJTFOIR - that this attack had been carried out by Syrian forces rather than ISIL. The suspicion being that it was intended to put pressure on the SDF's Aisling to focus on securing its lines rather than advancing towards the Syria/Iraq border.

However those suspicions have proved to be unfounded. The attack was carried out by ISIL and was motivated by nothing more than the vicious spite of a soon to be eradicated enemy.

Having met just south of Markadah on October 15th (15/10/17) the Niamh and Siobhan axis have been jointly working to liberate the towns and villages in the Khobar River basin. On both the west and east banks.

On October 26th (26/10/17) the combined Niamh and Siobhan axis liberated the town of Adil. This sits on the eastern banks of the Khobar around 5km (3 miles) south of as-Suwar.

In quick succession the SDF then liberated the villages of Harqa, Badiyh al-Hurayji, Bir Mazaal, Bir Sayad and Suwaylem on October 31st (31/10/17). On November 2nd (2/11/17) they liberated Jadidah Baqarah.

On Monday (6/11/17) the SDF's combined Niamh and Siobhan axis' liberated  al-Kajah, al-Hujnah, Tayib al-Far and Sukkar. This completed the liberation of the Khobar River basin from Shadaddi to the Euphrates River.

Since then he SDF's combined Niamh and Siobhan axis' have focused on liberating the Khobar River basin north from Shadaddi to Hasakah.

On Tuesday (6/11/17) they liberated the village of Qushayriyah. Today (9/11/17) they have liberated the village of Hariza.

I will have to leave the second force currently conducting operations against ISIL in north-eastern Syria until tomorrow.

21:55 on 9/11/17 (UK date).