Slow Progress in the 'Final Assault' Against ISIS in Eastern Syria

Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by the United States, announced the start of their 'final assault' on the last positions of the Islamic State (ISIS) in eastern Syria early Sunday, February 10. Preparations for this operation began the previous day. According to CNN, this operation was delayed by a week to allow civilians to evacuate from ISIS-held areas in Deir ez-Zor province. The focus of the battle is on the village of 'Baghouz Fawqani,' where it is reported that at least 500 of the most experienced ISIS fighters are entrenched, moving through tunnels they have created between the houses of the village. Syrian Democratic Forces have told reporters that their operation has faced fierce resistance from ISIS fighters, who have managed to kill two Syrian Democratic Forces soldiers and injure several others with their relatively advanced missiles. Reports also indicate that American, French, and British forces are present to provide support around the village of 'Baghouz Fawqani,' engaging in shelling and bombardment of ISIS positions. According to CNN, the U.S.-led coalition heavily bombarded the western part of this village early Sunday. ISIS controls only a 4 square kilometer area in eastern Syria. Commanders of the Syrian Democratic Forces say that approximately 1,500 civilians are likely still living in the ISIS-held area. At the height of ISIS's control over large areas of Syria and Iraq, 7.7 million people lived in the ISIS 'caliphate.' International organizations estimate that, in addition to local individuals in Iraq and Syria, at least 41,490 people from other countries have joined ISIS since the group's formation. The British newspaper The Guardian reported on Thursday that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, survived an assassination attempt early last month. The newspaper described the incident as a 'coup' executed by foreign fighters of the group on January 10, which ultimately failed, allowing al-Baghdadi to escape. The coup against the ISIS leader occurred in a village near the city of Hajin in Syria, along the Euphrates River. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), composed of Syrian Kurds and some Arab tribes in the region and supported by the U.S., took control of the city of Hajin from ISIS more than a month ago. Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he would likely announce the complete defeat of the group known as 'Islamic State' or ISIS within the next week.