A day after President Obama announced he will send 50 troops to Syria, the United States has now launched an offensive plan to secure our position in backing the Syrian rebels. Full story below.
The newly formed U.S. backed Syrian rebel alliance launched an offensive against the Islamic State Saturday, in the northeast region of Hasaka. Hasaka province borders Iraq as well as territory that is an ideal stronghold for the Islamic State. This is the first declared operation by the Democratic Forces of Syria, which combines together a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia as well as several Syrian Arab rebel groups, since it announced its inception with an initial raid earlier this month.
Frankie Zing: Twitter ll Instagram
The offensive commenced at midnight on Saturday, an alliance spokesman said. A group monitoring the war reported fighting and coalition air strikes in the northeast area. The battling is set to “continue until all occupied areas in Hasaka are freed from Daesh,” stated a spokesman for the alliance’s general command.
An additional spokesman said Islamic state fighters were already attacked at 12 a.m. by U.S special forces.
“The battle began after midnight,” Talal Salu told Reuters via internet messaging service. “They were flanked by our forces… (who) thwarted a counter attack.”
The U.S decision to aid Syrians in their ongoing battle with ISIS was birthed several weeks ago once they decided to drop ammunition for the rebels. Washington’s main focus now is to supply groups headed by U.S.-vetted commanders, instead of trying to train fighters outside the country.
Fighting was said to be raging on Saturday near al Hawl- a town close to the Iraqi border. The fighting has been accompanied by air support, which was reported by the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights- a monitory group for development on the ground.
Kurdish officials have additionally supplied that the U.S involvement is the Syrian rebels most effective partner in the battle with ISIS.
Previously: 50 U.S Troops To Be Deployed To Syria
U.S Commando Identified In Raid Against ISIS
U.S Soldier Killed After Rescuing 70 ISIS Hostages
