Fierce Fighting in Syria as Islamic State Fighters Put up a Last Stand against US-Backed Forces

Toronto, February 11: US-backed Kurdish forces are facing fierce resistance from Islamic State fighters who are holed up in just two villages in Syria’s eastern province of Deir ez-Zor. The offensive against the last bastion of Islamic State began on Saturday with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) setting siege to the two villages that shelter the hardened terrorist group's fighters.

“The decisive battle began tonight to finish what remains of Daesh terrorists,” SDF spokesman Mustefa Bali said, using the Arabic name for Islamic State. “The battle is very fierce,” he later told the Associated Press. “Those remaining inside are the most experienced who are defending their last stronghold. According to this you can imagine the ferocity and size of the fighting.”

The offensive against the Islamic State fighters hide-out began after thousands of civilians were asked to evacuate. The evacuees included families of Islamic State fighters who have appealed for amnesty.

The offensive began with US-led coalition airstrikes targeting the western part of Baghouz Al-Fawqani – one of the two villages still under the control of Islamic State fighters. The fighters are now concentrated in a four square kilometre area; the territory is just 1% of its caliphate that once was spread across large swathes of Syria and Iraq.  Read: US to Pull Out Troops From Syria, Donald Trump Declares Victory Over ISIS

At least 500 ISIS fighters are believed to be in the village, estimated to be a concentration of Islamic State's most experienced and battle-hardened fighters and commanders. The fighters have reportedly buried beneath the town, creating a network of tunnels that allows them to fight and run with ease. A similar strategy was deployed by the Islamic State fighters in the city of Mosul which saw one of the fiercest fighting in the country before its fall to the SDF. Read: Trump Admits US Troop Pull-out Could Cause a Resurgence of ISIS in Syria

Despite the defeat of Islamic State from most of its earlier held positions, it continues to earn revenue and support from across the globe. According to a report by the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence (ICSR) at King's College London, foreign fighters continue to arrive in Syria, undeterred to join the Islamic State, at an average of 50 per month.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 11, 2019 02:04 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).