Remember two weeks ago, when I said that the Islamic State has lost its last remaining territory in the Hajin pocket?
Turns out that pronouncement was premature:
U.S.-backed forces in Syria are closing in on the last patch of Islamic State’s self-declared caliphate in Syria.
Syrian Democratic Force spokesman Mustafa Bali said Saturday three SDF soldiers have been wounded. Militants have been killed, he said, but he could not confirm a number.
“Fighting continues and heavy weapons are being used,” Bali said. “SDF forces have advanced significantly and have moved into Baghuz. Militants are still planting and using IEDs and bombs are exploding as the SDF forces are advancing. There is also heavy street fighting.”
The advance on the terror group’s remaining fighters began late Friday.
The final assault, announced on Twitter by Syrian Democratic Force spokesman Mustafa Bali, began just a day after the lead commander said the northeast Syrian village of Baghuz would be liberated within a week.
Remember that Livemap image that showed no more Islamic State-held territory left in Baghuz?
Well, this is what it looks like now:
Some of the confusion stems from the American media’s apparent complete disinterest in covering the end of the Islamic State, meaning that reporting on the conflict tends to vary between spotty and distant to non-existent. Part of the pause in the final assault was apparently to evacuate remaining civilians.
Hopefully the final final assault is no underway, and the utter destruction of the last of the Hajin/Baghuz pocket is underway.
Some related tweets:
Fierce fighting between #YPG-led #SDF fighters and #Daesh / #ISIS #terrorists on outskirts of #Baghouz today.#DefeatDaesh #DefeatISIS #Rojava #Kurdistan #YPJ #Twitterkurds #Kurds pic.twitter.com/Y8ZNeI6wl5
— Struggle Of Kurds 🦅 (@1StrugleOfKurds) March 2, 2019
Heavy fighting continues at outskirts of #Baghouz at the moment. #SDF and #YPG–#YPJ made a remarkable progress since yesterday evening, recaptured many positions from #ISIS terrorists.#DefeatDaesh.
Via YPG Press #Rojava #Kurdistan #Twitterkurds #Kurds pic.twitter.com/IizPW3OxLS
— Struggle Of Kurds 🦅 (@1StrugleOfKurds) March 2, 2019
If you wonder how many great men & women people of Kobanî gave in the fight to #DefeatDaesh. This is Kobanî cemetary. These are the graves of the fallen heroes & heroines. They fell on behalf of ALL the world
🌹Şehîdên Me Rûmeta Me Ne🌹 pic.twitter.com/EPqhfePEBx— Rojava (@AzadiRojava) February 2, 2019
Tags: al-Baghuz Fawqani, Foreign Policy, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, Jihad, Military, Syria, Syrian Democratic Forces