U.S.-backed fighters have slowed an offensive to take Islamic State’s last enclave in eastern Syria because a small number of civilians remain there, though fierce fighting continues, they said on Monday. Islamic State faces defeat in the last shred of its main territory in Syria and Iraq...

Kurdish-led forces supported by coalition air strikes readied for more evacuations of civilians held as human shields Monday after smashing their way into the jihadists' last bastion in eastern Syria. The Syrian Democratic Forces and its allies from the US-led coalition unleashed a deluge...

 U.S.-backed forces are slowing down their offensive against the last Islamic State pocket in eastern Syria to protect civilians who remain there, a spokesman for a militia force said on Monday, adding that the battle would still “be over soon”. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)...

he rattle of guns, bomb blasts and black smoke -- a deluge of fire is being unleashed on the Islamic State's last Syrian stronghold by Kurdish-led and international forces. "Watch out, it's coming!" Kurdish commander Hagit Qamishlo shouts to AFP journalists, from the terrace of a house that...