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[webfact]

U.S.-backed Syrian fighters advance in clashes with Islamic State - official

 

FILE PHOTO: Fighters of Syrian Democratic Forces ride on trucks as their convoy passes in Ain Issa, Syria October 16, 2017. REUTERS/Erik De Castro

 

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have seized ground from Islamic State in a fierce battle to capture its last enclave in eastern Syria, an SDF official said on Sunday.

 

The SDF, backed by a U.S.-led coalition, began the assault on Saturday, seeking to wipe out the last remnants of the jihadist group's "caliphate" in the SDF's area of operations in eastern and northern Syria.

 

The enclave is close to the Iraqi border and comprises two villages. Islamic State (IS) also still retains territory in the part of Syria that is mostly under the control of the Russian- and Iranian-backed Syrian government.

 

SDF fighters had so far seized 41 positions but had faced counter attacks early on Sunday that had been repelled, Mustafa Bali, head of the SDF media office, told Reuters.

 

"The clashes are ferocious naturally because the terrorist group is defending its last stronghold."

 

President Donald Trump, who is planning to pull U.S. forces out of Syria, said on Wednesday he expected a formal announcement as early as this week that the coalition had reclaimed all the territory previously held by Islamic State.

 

Bali said 400 to 600 jihadists were estimated to be holed up in the enclave, including foreigners and other hardened fighters.

 

Between 500 to 1,000 civilians are also estimated to be inside, Bali said. More than 20,000 civilians were evacuated in the 10 days leading up to Saturday, he said.

 

"If we can, in a short time frame, get the (remaining) civilians out or isolate them, I believe that the coming few days will witness the military end of the terrorist organisation in this area," Bali said.

 

Senior SDF official Redur Xelil told Reuters on Saturday the force hoped to capture the area by the end of February, but cautioned that IS would continue to pose "great and serious" security threats even after that.

 

IS redrew the map of the Middle East in 2014 when it declared a caliphate across large areas of Syria and Iraq. But it steadily lost ground and its two main prizes - the Syrian city of Raqqa and Iraq's Mosul - fell in 2017.

 

Spearheaded by the Kurdish YPG militia, the SDF has been the main U.S. partner in Syria.

 

A top U.S. general said last week Islamic State would pose an enduring threat following the U.S. withdrawal, as it still has leaders, fighters, facilitators and resources.

 

(Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Frances Kerry)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-11

 

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

A top U.S. general said last week Islamic State would pose an enduring threat following the U.S. withdrawal, as it still has leaders, fighters, facilitators and resources.

exactly, a small fraction of the extremists have been killed, they have just scattered along with their weapons and their blind hatred; they will wait and reorganize once the occupiers have tired and gone home

[Emdog]

"Spearheaded by the Kurdish YPG militia, the SDF has been the main U.S. partner in Syria. "

And then the world will turn it's back on the Kurds and the Turks will have at the Kurds. Dangerous neighborhood  to have friends who call you friends only when you are needed

[fullcave]

1 hour ago, YetAnother said:

exactly, a small fraction of the extremists have been killed, they have just scattered along with their weapons and their blind hatred; they will wait and reorganize once the occupiers have tired and gone home

Exactly, you'll have to stay forever. ????

[sammieuk1]

When the U.S. moves out Erdogan will move in and finish everyone the sultan way????

[Srikcir]

31 minutes ago, car720 said:

and if the yanks do to these guys what it appears they will do then don't be surprised to find these guys wearing black shirts shortly thereafter.

Aren't these "guys" already pursuing a deal with Assad that would protect them from Turkish obliteration?

• Kurdish Syrian forces have asked the Syrian government for protection against a Turkish attack in a flashpoint town, triggered by a shock US decision to withdraw forces from the country which left them exposed. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/28/abandoned-us-syrian-kurds-request-help-assad-regime/
• The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) say they have agreed to work with the Syrian government towards a "democratic, decentralised Syria", in an attempt to cement their autonomy in the war-ravaged country. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/07/backed-syrian-kurds-agree-roadmap-assad-government-180728082610203.html

The SDF isn't waiting to be killed by Turks after US abandonment. And Assad retains firm control of Syria with deep connections with Iran. Thanks to Trump and Bolton.

[Rimmer]

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