Syrian Rebels Push ISIS Back from a 'Strategic Area'

According to reports from Syria, a group of rebels opposing Bashar al-Assad have succeeded in pushing the self-proclaimed Islamic State forces back from 'strategic areas' in the north of the country and have cut off a supply route for ISIS through Turkey. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on June 9 that the rebels, alongside some Islamist groups, launched attacks against the 'Islamic Government' from both the Azaz and Mare' regions. Following these attacks, ISIS militants have withdrawn from villages in the north of the country, leading to the capture of this supply route. French news agency AFP quoted Rami Abdulrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights based in London, stating that the forces of the 'Islamic Government' have even retreated from cities and villages east of this important road. Syrian rebels in the 'Syrian Democratic Forces' have also made significant advances against the 'Islamic Government' recently, managing to reach within five kilometers of the city of Manbij on June 4. The Syrian government army, which is also engaged in battles with the rebels and continues to bomb areas under their control, has also launched attacks against ISIS militants and the 'Jabhat al-Nusra' group. ISIS began seizing large areas of Syria and Iraq nearly two years ago, declaring an 'Islamic Caliphate' led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in both countries. Reports of advances by government forces have also emerged from Fallujah, located fifty kilometers west of Baghdad, where the Iraqi army and its allied militias are battling the 'Islamic Caliphate' group. A coalition led by the United States provides air support to both the 'Syrian Democratic Forces' and the Iraqi armed forces in both countries. ISIS's supply routes extended from Jarabulus on the Turkey-Syria border to the city of Manbij and then southeast along the Euphrates River to Raqqa.