(Zaman Al Wasl)- Kurdish-led Syria Democratic Forces on Thursday thwarted ISIS major attack on two villages near Euphrates dam northeastern Syria after three days of fierce fighting amid reports of heavy losses from both sides, the U.S. backed group.
The coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters took foiled ISIS attack on Ja'bar Sharqi and Ja'bar Gharbi villages, few miles from largest dam in Syria and once main electricity supply.
SDF, in statement posted online, said at least 40 ISIS militiamen were killed in the clashes. Activists Joud Khalil said 15 SDF fighters were also killed.
on Tuesday, SDF took villages of al-Dahlan, Arir and Hanhood from ISIS north and west of al-Raqqa city, the de facto capital of the extremist group's self-declared caliphate.
The YPG-led forces have been on the offensive in Raqqa province since early November, advancing with the aid of U.S.-led airstrikes. The operation is aimed at encircling and eventually retaking Raqqa.
The city is home to nearly 200,000 mostly Sunni Arabs and an estimated 5,000 ISIS fighters.
SDF fighters, with the support of U.S., French and British special forces, have driven ISIS from dozens of villages and farms in recent days and are now about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Euphrates dam.
The capture of the dam, which controls the flow of water to parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq, would deal a major blow to the extremist group, which has held the facility for more than two years. Behind the dam lies Lake Assad, which at 640 square kilometers (247 square miles), is Syria's largest reservoir. (With agencies)
The coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters took foiled ISIS attack on Ja'bar Sharqi and Ja'bar Gharbi villages, few miles from largest dam in Syria and once main electricity supply.
SDF, in statement posted online, said at least 40 ISIS militiamen were killed in the clashes. Activists Joud Khalil said 15 SDF fighters were also killed.
on Tuesday, SDF took villages of al-Dahlan, Arir and Hanhood from ISIS north and west of al-Raqqa city, the de facto capital of the extremist group's self-declared caliphate.
The YPG-led forces have been on the offensive in Raqqa province since early November, advancing with the aid of U.S.-led airstrikes. The operation is aimed at encircling and eventually retaking Raqqa.
The city is home to nearly 200,000 mostly Sunni Arabs and an estimated 5,000 ISIS fighters.
SDF fighters, with the support of U.S., French and British special forces, have driven ISIS from dozens of villages and farms in recent days and are now about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Euphrates dam.
The capture of the dam, which controls the flow of water to parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq, would deal a major blow to the extremist group, which has held the facility for more than two years. Behind the dam lies Lake Assad, which at 640 square kilometers (247 square miles), is Syria's largest reservoir. (With agencies)
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