US-supported fighters capture Syrian city, reports say
The eastern city of Deir ez-Zor is now under the complete control of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which are largely composed of Kurds, as reported by Reuters. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has taken full control of the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor, according to Reuters.
The SDF, a US-backed military coalition primarily comprised of Kurdish groups, has successfully seized the city in eastern Syria, as reported by the news outlet. Two security sources from the region confirmed that the SDF established complete control by Friday afternoon.
Additionally, the SDF is said to manage several neighborhoods in Aleppo that are surrounded by Islamist insurgents. Local media activists with connections in Deir ez-Zor informed Reuters that Syrian government forces, along with Iraqi fighters supported by Iran, had retreated from the city before the SDF's arrival.
Reports indicate that the SDF is also advancing toward the town of Albukamal, with an Iraqi security source suggesting that the border city could be captured within the next 24 hours.
This SDF advance comes in the wake of a surprise attack launched by militant forces in Syria, spearheaded by the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra. The insurgents have pushed back government forces and taken significant territory in Aleppo and Idlib, encircling the critical city of Hama on Thursday. They are also reportedly progressing toward Syria’s third-largest city, Homs.
Mazloum Abdi, the general commander of the SDF, noted on Friday that they have maintained contact with HTS. “We have contact with Tahrir al-Sham through many channels, typically regarding the protection of our people in Aleppo. Apparently, we have never clashed with them,” Abdi shared with journalists during a press conference, as cited by Rudaw Media Network.
Since its formation in 2015, the SDF, which encompasses a wide coalition of Kurdish and Arab militia forces, has been engaged in battles against Islamic State terrorists, successfully reclaiming territory held by the group in eastern Syria.
The SDF faces opposition from Türkiye, which links the group to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, a faction that Ankara designates as a terrorist organization.
By the end of 2019, affiliates of the SDF reportedly claimed to have approximately 40,000 fighters among their ranks. The US has around 900 troops on the ground, providing advisory support to the Syrian Kurdish forces.
This week, a US official informed The War Zone website that the US military has been backing an SDF offensive operation near Deir ez-Zor. “They requested support, and we supported them,” the official stated without elaborating further.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
The SDF, a US-backed military coalition primarily comprised of Kurdish groups, has successfully seized the city in eastern Syria, as reported by the news outlet. Two security sources from the region confirmed that the SDF established complete control by Friday afternoon.
Additionally, the SDF is said to manage several neighborhoods in Aleppo that are surrounded by Islamist insurgents. Local media activists with connections in Deir ez-Zor informed Reuters that Syrian government forces, along with Iraqi fighters supported by Iran, had retreated from the city before the SDF's arrival.
Reports indicate that the SDF is also advancing toward the town of Albukamal, with an Iraqi security source suggesting that the border city could be captured within the next 24 hours.
This SDF advance comes in the wake of a surprise attack launched by militant forces in Syria, spearheaded by the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra. The insurgents have pushed back government forces and taken significant territory in Aleppo and Idlib, encircling the critical city of Hama on Thursday. They are also reportedly progressing toward Syria’s third-largest city, Homs.
Mazloum Abdi, the general commander of the SDF, noted on Friday that they have maintained contact with HTS. “We have contact with Tahrir al-Sham through many channels, typically regarding the protection of our people in Aleppo. Apparently, we have never clashed with them,” Abdi shared with journalists during a press conference, as cited by Rudaw Media Network.
Since its formation in 2015, the SDF, which encompasses a wide coalition of Kurdish and Arab militia forces, has been engaged in battles against Islamic State terrorists, successfully reclaiming territory held by the group in eastern Syria.
The SDF faces opposition from Türkiye, which links the group to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, a faction that Ankara designates as a terrorist organization.
By the end of 2019, affiliates of the SDF reportedly claimed to have approximately 40,000 fighters among their ranks. The US has around 900 troops on the ground, providing advisory support to the Syrian Kurdish forces.
This week, a US official informed The War Zone website that the US military has been backing an SDF offensive operation near Deir ez-Zor. “They requested support, and we supported them,” the official stated without elaborating further.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
