- Clashes raged around a key northern Syrian town today after the Islamic State group launched a counter-attack to fend off a US-backed advance near the jihadists' stronghold Raqa.
- Clashes raged around a key northern Syrian town today after the Islamic State group launched a counter-attack to fend off a US-backed advance near the jihadists' stronghold Raqa.
Backed by air power from the international coalition bombing IS, the Syrian Democratic Forces are laying the groundwork for an assault on the heart of the jihadists' so-called "caliphate".
A key part of the campaign is the battle for the IS-held town of Tabqa on the Euphrates River, as well as the adjacent dam and military airport.
The SDF seized the Tabqa airbase late Sunday and began moving north towards the town itself, but IS fighters began pushing back today, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
"The fighting is a result of IS launching a counter-offensive to exhaust the Syrian Democratic Forces around the Tabqa military airport," said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Observatory.
The SDF was working to "consolidate its positions" near the airport ahead of a final push for the town, he said.
IS launched the attack with a car bomb targeting SDF forces stationed near the airport, the alliance's media arm said.
Fierce clashes broke out but the SDF held back the attack and managed to seize some ammunition and rocket stores from IS, according to pictures published by the SDF.
SDF fighters are also bearing down on the Tabqa dam after capturing its northern entrance on Friday from IS fighters.
The fight around the structure has been backed by forces from the US-led coalition, with American-made armoured vehicles bearing the markings of the US Marine Corps seen moving along a nearby road.
An
(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
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