Reports indicate that Islamic State fighters launched a new counterattack on US-backed forces on Monday, inflicting "heavy casualties" by seizing areas around the city of Manbij. Additionally, ISIS forces forced the Syrian army to retreat in an area around the city of Tabqa. According to Reuters, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in London, states that ISIS fighters managed to capture three villages south of the besieged city of Manbij and killed at least 28 members of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab forces supported by the US, began operations to seize the city of Manbij near the Turkish border three weeks ago, but their efforts have not been successful. The report indicates that SDF militants advanced to within 2 kilometers of the city center from the western side, but were forced to retreat on Saturday. Sherif Darwish, a spokesperson for the SDF, stated that their forces successfully repelled the ISIS counterattack. However, he emphasized that many civilians remain trapped inside the city. He added that the situation is under control, with many bodies left on the ground. Darwish noted in an interview with Reuters that their forces control the four main entrances to the city, but ISIS has booby-trapped the entire area. After 20 days of operations, they now need to attack inside the city. He also mentioned that at least two thousand people have managed to flee the city. Meanwhile, reports indicate that ISIS fighters have pushed Syrian government forces back from 10 kilometers south of the strategic city of Tabqa. The city of Tabqa is located 50 kilometers west of Raqqa, the center of the Islamic State's caliphate. A large airbase in this city has been under ISIS control since 2014. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights states that ISIS fighters have managed to regain areas that government forces captured two weeks ago. A Syrian journalist accompanying government forces also told Reuters that ISIS fighters have captured areas around an oil field in Tabqa. The five-year civil war in Syria has left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced, with political efforts to end it yielding no results.
ISIS Counterattack on Syrian Army Positions and US-Supported Forces
ISIS has launched a counterattack against US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian army, capturing areas around Manbij and Tabqa. This escalation highlights the ongoing instability and violence in the region, complicating efforts for a political resolution to the Syrian civil war.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
ISIS launched a counterattack against U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian army, capturing areas around Manbij and Tabqa, resulting in heavy casualties. The SDF's efforts to seize Manbij have been hampered, and ISIS has regained territory lost to government forces.
- ISIS inflicted heavy casualties on the SDF, killing at least 28 fighters.
- The SDF has been unable to fully capture Manbij despite being within 2 kilometers of the city center.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Syrian civil war has created a power vacuum that ISIS has exploited, leading to ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises. The U.S. supports the SDF to combat ISIS, while Iran backs the Assad regime.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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