Raqqa Subdistrict or ar-Raqqah Nahiyah (Arabic: ناحية الرقّة), a subdistrict of Raqqa District, is the central area of Raqqa Governorate (Syria), including the city of Raqqa and the nearby countryside north of the Euphrates. The subdistrict population at the 2004 census was 338,773, the majority of which living in Raqqa city itself.[1]
The administrative centre is Raqqa. Formerly, much of the subdistrict was controlled by ISIS.[2]
By March 2013 all of the countryside and effectively the city had fallen into rebel hands.[5]
During December 2016 the Syrian Democratic Forces drove ISIS out of most of the neighbouring Al-Jarniyah Subdistrict. Early in January 2017 the SDF extended their advance into south-western parts of Raqqa Subdistrict, occupying the area around Bi'r Huwaym / Widyan (Arabic: الوديان),[6] and western Sweidiyeh.[7]
The SDF extended their control the north of Raqqa Governorate into Raqqa Subdistrict as far south as the hill Tal Saman (Arabic: تل السمن), gaining control of Thulth Khneiz and several other villages in November 2016.[8] At that time an elementary school and the water purification system in Sukariyet Tal Elsamen were severely damaged in air raids, and among other casualties one American Special Operations trooper died at Tal Saman.[9][10] Further gains by the SDF were reported in January 2017 including Abu Suseh, Mashrafa and Ayuj.[11][12] With the capture of Big Sweidiyeh on 21 January 2017, the SDF were in control of all parts of the nahiyah north of the irrigation canal running from Lake Assad to Tal Saman.[13]
Syria
