In course of the Raqqa campaign (2016–2017), an international coalition, primarily composed of the Syrian Democratic Forces and CJTF–OIR, captured the Raqqa Governorate from the Islamic State, which had declared Raqqa city the capital of its self-proclaimed caliphate.
Anti-ISIL forces Syrian Democratic Forces and integrated units
SDF general headquarters - Gen. Mazlum Kobane (chief commander of the SDF), Rojda Felat (leading operations commander), Sipan Hamo (YPG chief commander), Cihan Shekh Ahmed (spokeswoman), Col. Talal Silo (spokesman), Brig. Gen. Hussam Awak (high-ranking commander)
People's Protection Units (YPG), under command of Sipan Hemo YPG International Battalion, led by Karim Franceschi Kobanî Brigade, led by Shevgar Himo Units from Afrin Canton Many other sub-units, led by Murat Amed, Merdali Süleymanovun (alias "Çiya Rûs", killed on 23 April 2017), and various other commanders (of which at least 7 were killed by 14 March 2017) PKK units () Western leftist/anarchist YPG volunteers (c. 75+) Non-leftist international volunteers Women's Protection Units (YPJ), under command of Rojda Felat Units from Afrin Canton Many other sub-units, commanded by Diljin Kobani, Clara Raqqa, Zagros Qamishlo, and others Anti-Terror Units (YAT) Syriac Military Council (MFS), under command of Kino Gabriel Bethnahrain Women's Protection Forces International volunteers Khabour Guards () Martyr Joel Hanna grouphttps://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1164645640307515&id=690780204360730 Nattoreh, under command of Robert Ichou Raqqa Hawks Brigade Ghanim group, under command of Fayad Ghanim () Northern Union, under command of Abu Yamen al-Meko () Martyr Tasleem Jimmo Brigade, under command of Aboud al-Hafez Other sub-units, led by Abu Saleh al-Hindawi, Abu Mustafa, and others
Tell Abyad Revolutionaries Brigade, under command of Abu Yazan Raqqa Martyrs Brigade, under command of Abu Sayaf Liberation Brigade Free Raqqa Brigade, under command of Abu Wael Jazeera Knights Jabhat Thuwar al-Raqqa (), under command of Abu Issa Various sub-units, led by Capt. Abu al-Qasim al-Shammari, Farhan Abu Asker, Abdullah al-Helu, and others
Army of Revolutionaries, under the command of Ahmad Sultan Kurdish Front, under the commander of Ali Çiçek () Seljuk Brigade () Hammam Turkmen Martyrs Brigade Tribal Forces (), under the command of Abu Raad Bakary Homs Commandos Brigade () Martyr Qasim Areef Battalion Northern Democratic Brigade () Manbij Military Council (), under the command of Muhammad Mustafa Ali, also known by his nom de guerre Abu Adel, since September 2017. The council was previously led by Adnan Abu Amjad until his death on 29 August 2017. The field commander of the council in Raqqa is Dilsuz Hashme. Northern Sun Battalion, under command of Muhammad Mustafa Ali Soldiers of the Two Holy Mosques Brigade Euphrates Liberation Brigade, led by Ibrahim Semho Syria's Tomorrow Movement, under the official leadership of Ahmad Jarba Elite Forces (), commanded by Muhedi Jayila Saadallah al-Jabiri Battalion, led by Muhammad Ramadan until his death on 16 March 2017 Liwa Owais al-Qorani remnants Al-Sanadid Forces, under command of Bandar al-Humaydi
Deir ez-Zor Military Council (), under command of Ahmad Abu Khoula Sub-units led by Khalid Awad (killed on 22 February), and others Raqqa Regiment, led by Hassan Khalil Northern Brigade faction, led by Mihemed Al Musa () Local pro-SDF tribes and militias Self-Defense Forces (HXP) - Siyamend Welat (chief commander of HXP) Elements of the 3rd Brigade Police Jazira Canton Asayish units SWAT units (HAT) Raqqa Internal Security Forces , led by Edrees Hamo and others
International Freedom Battalion MLKP MLKP/KKÖ United Freedom Forces Revolutionary Communard Party, led by Ulaş Bayraktaroğlu (killed in May 2017) THKP-C/MLSPB TKP/ML TİKKO, led by Nubar Ozanyan (killed in August 2017) Bob Crow Brigade International Revolutionary People's Guerrilla Forces (IRPGF) TQILA () RUIS Sinjar Resistance Units () Êzîdxan Women's Units (),
PUK Peshmerga Counterterrorism Group
CJTF–OIR
CJTF–OIR general headquarters - Maj. Gen. John W. Brennan (chief commander), Brig. Gen. Karl Harris (deputy commander) United States Armed Forces, under the command of CENTCOM, which is led by Kenneth F. McKenzie United States Air Force United States Air Force Combat Control Team
United States Marine Corps 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit 1st Battalion, 4th Marines United States special operations forces 75th Ranger Regiment 5th Special Forces Group
British Armed Forces Royal Air Force British special forces Special Air Service French Armed Forces French Air Force French special forces Bundeswehr German Air Force
Syrian government and allies (co-belligerent)
Syrian Arab Army Tiger Forces
Russian Armed Forces Russian Air Force
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
ISIL headquarters - Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (self-proclaimed caliph and commander-in-chief); Abu Jandal al-Kuwaiti (leading commander for Raqqa defences 11–26 December); Abu Khattab al-Tunisi (ISIL high command member)
ISIL military forces ("Diwan al-Jund") Field army (organized into infantry, snipers, air defence, special forces, artillery forces, and the army of adversity) Defences of Al-Thawrah, under command of Abu Saraqeb al-Maghribi Sub-units in al-Thawrah District, led by various emirs, including Abu Umar al-Almani (killed on 25 March), Abu Zubeyir (killed on 2 April), and a Jordanian, who secretly worked as spy for CJTF–OIR until being extracted by US special forces in April Defences of Raqqa city; the eastern city was under command of Abu Khattab al-Tunisi until his death on 10 June 2017. At least some of the ISIL holdouts in Raqqa by October 2017 were under the command of a man known as "Abu Osama". Large number of foreign mujahideen Local pro-ISIL militias Defences of al-Fakhikha, under command of a lower-ranking local commander/official, who was arrested by ISIL around 8 January on charges that he might have sold information to the Kurds or CJTF–OIR Other sub-units, led by Abu Zur al-Tunisi and Bilal al-Shawwash (both deserted to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham around 7 December), Abo Hamza Riadiat (killed on 8 January), and others Caliphate Army (elite forces) Katibah Nusantara elements, led by Zainuri Kamaruddin until his death on 13 January Rapid Response Battalion, personally led by Abu Jandal al-Kuwaiti until his death Caliphate Cubs (child soldiers) Abu Ubada al-Shami, one of the leading commanders and recruiters for the Caliphate Cubs, surrendered to the SDF on 20 Aug. 2017 Committee for Military Manufacturing and Development Aviation sector Al Bara’ bin Malik Brigade
External operations networks, led by Abd al-Basit al-Iraqi (killed by an airstrike on 12 November) Network of Boubaker Al-Hakim ( reported killed by an airstrike on 26 November), including sub-units led by Salah Gourmet, Sammy Djedou, and Walid Hamman (all killed on 4 December) Units responsible for contacts and coordination among ISIL forces, led by Abo Sufian al-Orani until his death on 8 January.
Administration Wilayat Raqqa, under ISIL Governor Abu Luqman. Majority of al-Breij tribe Elements of al-Ajeel tribe Elements of al-Na'im tribe Islamic police (Hibsa), led by Abu Muhammad al-Jazrawi since his appointment around 31 December Al-Khansaa Brigade Intelligence and propaganda networks, overseen by Mahmoud al-Isawi until his death on 31 December by an airstrike Ahmad Abousamra, a leading ISIL propagandist, was killed by an airstrike north of al-Thawrah city in January 2017 Ministry of Information, led by Abu Ahmed al-Souri until he was replaced by Abu Jandal al-Masri around 31 December
Notes
See also Raqqa campaign (2016–2017) Order of battle for the Battle of Mosul (2016–2017)
References
Bibliography