(Zaman Al Wasl)- The U.S.-backed Syrian forces and the Iraqi army have encircled a border town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor province, activists said Saturday.
The joint operation between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Iraqi army followed coordination with the U.S.-led coalition as the all parties seek to uproot Daesh from its last pockets in the eastern bank of Euphrates River.
Activist Abdul Rahman al-Kheder told Zaman al-Wasl that the Iraqi forces and the SDF have blockaded the towns of al-Baouz and al-Hajeen, including small villages located at the border.
Last April, Aldar Xelil, a top Syrian Kurdish politician told Reuters that the Kurdish-led forces and the Iraqi government could mount joint operations against Islamic State in the area on the border of the two countries.
The co-chair of the Movement for a Democratic Society warned of a jihadist revival in eastern Syria, where operations by SDF have tapered off since they diverted fighters to the northwest to fight a Turkish offensive.
The SDF, which the Kurdish YPG militia spearheads, has been the main partner of the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State in Syria, helping drive the jihadists out of swathes of northern and eastern Syria last year.
Meanwhile, activist Mohamed al-Khedher said the U.S. base in Hasaka had sent a military convoy, including six armored vehicles, to support SDF in the eastern bank of Euphrates River.
Also in northeastern Syria, at least 8 civilians were killed late on Friday in U.S.-led coalition airstrikes against last Daesh strongholds in Hasaka provinces, activists said.
The strikes east of al-Shaddadi town have killed 8 family members, mostly women and children.
The U.S.-led airstrikes have killed more than 2000 civilians and have displaced thousands more, according to the United Nations.
Zaman Al Wasl
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