Islamic State enclave pounded in U.S.-backed assault
BAGHOUZ, Syria - Islamic State’s final enclave in eastern Syria was pounded with air strikes and artillery on Monday in a U.S.-backed assault aimed at wiping out the last shred of its territorial rule that once spanned a third of Syria and Iraq.
The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces said earlier its fighters were encountering sniper fire and landmines and advancing slowly to avoid losses. The most hardened IS foreign fighters are still holed up in the area, the SDF has said.The defeat of Islamic State at Baghouz will mark a milestone in the campaign against the jihadist group, ending its control of populated territory in the area straddling Iraq and Syria where it suddenly expanded in 2014 and declared a caliphate.
“We’re pretty confident the leadership is not still down in this tiny little, basically hellhole that remains there,” the official said. The SDF has held off from a full assault for most of the past few weeks as many thousands of people poured from the enclave, including surrendering fighters, Islamic State supporters, other civilians and some of the group’s captives.
Amid palm trees and scrubby patches of vegetation, rusting cars stood among the bivouacs made by stringing blankets from rope. Oil drums and plastic barrels lay scattered around.
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
Timeline: The rise and fall of Islamic State in Iraq and SyriaIslamic State faces territorial defeat as U.S.-backed Syrian forces attack its f...
Baca lebih lajut »
Islamic State extremism on show at 'miserable' Syria campForeign women with Islamic State have tried to assault others they deem 'in...
Baca lebih lajut »
Hundreds of Islamic State fighters surrender in east SyriaHundreds of Islamic State fighters surrendered on Wednesday and hundreds more of...
Baca lebih lajut »
Freed Yazidi woman in Syria endured years of Islamic State slaverySalwa Sayed al-Omar spent years as a Yazidi prisoner of Islamic State but she es...
Baca lebih lajut »
IS runaway teen's baby son dies in SyriaThe baby son of Shamima Begum, a British-born teenager who left London to join the Islamic State group, has died in Syria, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces has said. Begum, 19, who was stripped of her citizenship by the British government despite her wish to return, gave birth last month in a
Baca lebih lajut »
Explainer: Does Islamic State still pose a threat?Islamic State looks about to lose its last foothold - on the banks of the Euphra...
Baca lebih lajut »
Exclusive: Two Belgian women, renouncing Islamic State, fear kids will never go homeTwo Belgian women who joined Islamic State in Syria said on Sunday they were los...
Baca lebih lajut »
Exclusive: Islamic State fighter wants to return to Italy, warns of 'sleeper cells'An Islamic State fighter detained in Syria urged Italy on Saturday to let him co...
Baca lebih lajut »
Iraq leader says Islamic State foreign fighters may face death penalty: interviewIraqi President Barham Salih said foreign Islamic State fighters tried in Iraq c...
Baca lebih lajut »