Syrian Democratic Forces enter Deir al-Zor province for first time - Kurdish military source

Record ID: 275542

  • Title: Syrian Democratic Forces enter Deir al-Zor province for first time - Kurdish military source
  • Date: 21st February 2017
  • Summary: MAKMAN, DEIR AL-ZOR PROVINCE, SYRIA (FEBRUARY 21, 2017) (VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS) SYRIAN DEMOCRATIC FORCES (SDF) VEHICLES SDF FORCES AT OUTLOOK POST FIGHTERS SITTING ON TOP OF TANKS / SDF FLAGS VISIBLE VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MEMBER OF SYRIAN DEMOCRATIC FORCES, ABDELAZIZ OTHMAN, SAYING: "We captured the Jirwan area and we are advancing towards Ka
  • Embargoed: 7th March 2017 20:05
  • Keywords: Kurdish military Syrian Democratic Forces Deir al-Zor province Syrian civil war Islamic State
  • Location: MAKMAN, DEIR AL-ZOR PROVINCE, SYRIA
  • City: MAKMAN, DEIR AL-ZOR PROVINCE, SYRIA
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA00164GTH6V
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance has crossed into Deir al-Zor province for the first time as part of an offensive against Islamic State, a Kurdish military source said on Tuesday (February 21).
    The advance into the province, which is almost entirely under the ultra-hardline group's control, is part of an operation to encircle and ultimately capture its de facto Syrian capital of Raqqa in the north of the country.
    One aim of the campaign is to cut IS's supply lines from Raqqa to Deir al-Zor province.
    A member of the SDF forces, speaking from a point that is halfway between Deir al-Zor and Raqqa, said the group will continue its advance towards Raqqa despite resistance from Islamic State militants.
    "The forces have advanced around 35 km. We are still moving forward despite the suicide cars they (Islamic State militants) are sending and the explosives they are planting, these actions will not help them as our forces are continuing their advance. We now announced a mission to disconnect the road between Deir al-Zor and Raqqa, so we can encircle (the militants) whether they were in Deir Al Zor or Raqqa," said Omar Abdel Hamid.
    The SDF, which includes the Kurdish YPG militia and Arab fighting groups, had captured some 15 villages from Islamic State militants in their incursion into the province, the source added. The source did not specify when this had taken place.
    Islamic State controls Deir al-Zor province apart from a Syrian government-held enclave in Deir al-Zor city and a nearby military air base.
    A number of different groups in Syria's multi-sided conflict are fighting separate battles against Islamic State from various sides.
    The SDF has recently advanced against IS to the north and east of Raqqa.
    Syria's army and its allies, backed by Russia, have been fighting back Islamic State assaults in Deir al-Zor city and engaged in clashes with the group further west.
    Meanwhile, Turkish-backed Syrian rebels are fighting for control of the northern city of al-Bab, which monitors say is still mostly in Islamic State hands.
    That battle has brought the Turkish-backed rebels into close proximity with Syrian government forces, which had advanced towards the city from another direction before the rebels entered it.
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