Operation Featherweight: Month 56, Week 2, Day 5.

A direct continuation of; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2019/02/operation-featherweight-month-56-week-2.html

The liberation of Shafah saw the SDF's north-western axis and northern axis unite. To form a single north-western axis.

Again the liberation of Shafah was carefully coordinated with the SDF's south-eastern axis.

On November 30th 2018 (30/11/18) the SDF's south-eastern axis advanced from its positions on the Syria/Iraq border to open a Humanitarian Corridor into Sousse. On December 16th 2018 (16/12/18) they developed this Humanitarian Corridor into a full battle front.

On December 19th 2018 (19/12/18) the SDF's south-eastern axis liberated Hawl al-Sousse. A village directly adjacent to Sousse's south-eastern side. This saw them break the main defensive ring around Sousse and start to advance into the town proper.

Following the liberation of Abu Bubadran on January 15th 2019 (15/1/19) the SDF's north-western axis advanced on al-Ulayat. The town which sits between Abu Bubadran and Sousse.

Al-Ulayat presented no problem the SDF. They swiftly liberated it and joined the battle for Sousse the same day. January 15th 2019 (15/1/19). Opening up a second front in the town.

By January 20th 2019 (20/1/19) Sousse had effectively been liberated. The SDF then moved onto Mouzan. A village sitting with Sousse directly to its north-west and Safafinah directly to its west.

On January 21st 2019 (21/1/19) the SDF liberated Mouzan. With fighting moving to Safafinah and Al Shalja/Nazl al-Fira. A town which sits with Mouzan to its north-west.

On January 23rd 2019 (23/1/19) both Safafinah and Shalja were liberated. Amid ISIL's defences collapsing and its fighters fleeing to Al Marashidah. Marashidah sits directly on the banks of the Euphrates. With Sousse to its north and Safafinah to its east.

The SDF chased ISIL into Marashidah with fighting there beginning the following day. January 24th 2019 (24/1/19).

On January 28th 2019 (28/1/19) the SDF fully liberated Marashidah.

This left ISIL in just Baghouz Fawqani. Along with the patches of open land between Marashidah to the west and Baghouz Tahtani to the east.

Throughout this Phase Four of Operation: Round Up the situation around Baghouz Fawqani has been complicated. To say the least.

On November 30th 2018 (30/11/18) the SDF reclaimed their positions along the Syria/Iraq border. From there they advanced down to Mount Baghouz on December 3rd 2018 (3/12/18).

The SDF then went around Mount Baghouz to liberate Baghouz Tahtani on December 8th 2018 (8/12/18). This allowed them to attack Mount Baghouz from three sides. Liberating it on December 11th 2018 (11/12/18).

The SDF then advanced north-west from Baghouz Tahtani towards Baghouz Fawqani. Along the Baghouz Cliffs. On January 2nd 2019 (2/1/19) the SDF liberated Harse. A small village directly adjacent to Baghouz Fawqani's south-eastern tip.

However at the same time the SDF also advanced on multiple sub-axis' from the Syria/Iraq border positions. In order to clear ISIL from the desert area between Baghouz Fawqani and the Syria/Iraq border.

The most north-westerly of these sub-axis' saw the SDF reach Sousse and open a Humanitarian Corridor. On November 30th 2018 (30/11/18).

On or around December 12th 2018 (12/12/18) the SDF opened a third sub-axis. This advanced on Baghouz Fawqani's north-westerly tip. Roughly where it is separated from Sousse by Mouzan.

At no point during this Phase Four have the SDF declared Baghouz Fawqani to be liberated.

However on January 23rd 2019 (23/1/19) there was a strong rumour that Baghouz Fawqani had been liberated.

This though proved to be untrue when the following day, January 24th 2019 (24/1/19) ISIL launched a sustained counter-offensive. This not only saw them in control of parts Baghouz Fawqani it also saw them in control of parts of Baghouz Tahtani.

Likewise on January 30th 2019 (30/1/19) there were even stronger rumours that the SDF had liberated Baghouz Fawqani.

Again these proved to be untrue when on February 2nd 2019 (2/2/19) ISIL launched another counter-offensive from Baghouz Fawqani. This saw them take control of parts of not only Baghouz Fawqani but also on Baghouz Tahtani and reach Mount Baghouz.

Ultimately though this counter-offensive proved to be nothing more than an attempt by a large number of ISIL fighters to break out from Baghouz Fawqani for the Syria/Iraq border. When they arrived at the Syria/Iraq border they were stopped in their tracks by Iraqi PMF units.

So it seems the reason why the SDF have not yet formally declared Baghouz Fawqani liberated is because they are not in full control of the town. However, by the same token, it is clear that ISIL are themselves not in full control of Baghouz Fawqani.

This has provided the SDF with a fantastic opportunity to protect the local civilian population.

On January 29th 2019 (29/1/19) the SDF suspended their efforts to liberate Baghouz Fawqani. Instead they shifted their focus to evacuating civilians for areas which where not under SDF control by where ISIL did not have enough of a presence to stop them. While CJTFOIR air and artillery strikes forced ISIL to hide in their bunkers.

During this period the SDF also opened negotiations with ISIL over the groups peaceful surrender. These though made little progress due to the ridiculous nature of ISIL's demands.

For example on January 29th 2019 (29/1/19) ISIL demanded that they be given free transfer to either the Turkish controlled Sudetenland or to Turkey itself. There is obviously no suggestion that that SDF could allow them to travel to Turkey, and by extension the wider World. So this demand was rejected.

On February 4th 2019 (4/2/19) ISIL demanded transfer to the Turkish controlled Sudetenland. In return for the surrender of Baghouz Fawqani and the release of 29 SDF prisoners they were holding. In rejecting this demand the SDF chose to protect the wider World over bringing their people home.

On February 5th 2019 (5/2/19) the UK Security Minister Ben Wallace made an absolute fool of himself. He told journalists that British civilian hostage John Cantlie is still alive and being held in Hajin. Despite his comments coming almost two months after the liberation of Hajin.

ISIL immediately leaped on Wallace's comments. On February 6th 2019 (6/2/19) they informed the SDF that they were holding Cantlie alive. They promised to release him if the SDF immediately allowed them to be transferred to either the Turkish controlled Sudetenland or to the Syrian Desert.

ISIL also claimed to be holding Italian Priest Father Paolo Dall'oglio alive and offered to release him. This significantly undermined ISIL's offer. It's been widely reported, by multiple sources, that Fr Dall'oglio was executed by ISIL in 2013 and his body dumped in a mass grave alongside other victims of ISIL's genocide in Raqqa City.

On Saturday, February 9th 2019 (9/2/19) the SDF determined that there were no longer any uncontrolled areas they could rescue civilians from. So they resumed their operation to liberate Baghouz Fawqani.

Since then I have been continuing to try to catch up. I am technically still more than a week behind.

So I do not feel that I am knowledgeable enough about the SDF's current, active battle to comment on it here. We are down to the detail of the specific locations of specific fighters. A point where I find I tend to do more harm than good.

I should point out though that both the SDF and CJTFOIR seem to have been treated the Hajin Pocket like one big battle. As if the liberated areas were simply districts of one very big city rather than a dozen separate towns.

Meaning that the SDF have liberated 11 of those 12 towns. However what they have not stopped to check every basement of every house before moving onto the next town. So while they are liberated I would not yet describe them as fully secure.

For example on January 7th 2019 (7/1/19) the SDF were engaged in heavy fighting in Sousse. However this did not stop ISIL taking advantage of another period of bad weather to launch a sustained attack on the SDF in the liberated town of Hajin.

Likewise on January 26th 2019 (26/1/19) the SDF were engaged in heavy fighting in Marashidah. That though did not stop ISIL launching a sustained attack on the SDF in the liberated town of Sousse. An attack that prompted a ten hour firefight in which 11 members of the SDF gave their lives to repel.

So if, or more likely, when Baghouz Fawqani is liberated the SDF will have to spend some time going back over all of the Hajin Pocket. Sweeping it to allow it to transition from liberated to fully secured.

20:50 on 14/2/19 (UK date).