The Beginning of a Decisive Battle of US-Supported Forces Against the Last Positions of ISIS in Syria

Simultaneously with the decisive battle against ISIS forces in Syria, Islamist militants aligned with al-Qaeda also killed 20 Syrian government-supporting soldiers. The jihadist group 'Ansar al-Tawhid' carried out an explosion near Idlib province in northwest Syria on Sunday, March 3, killing government troops. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the eight-year civil war from Britain, states that the 'Ansar al-Tawhid' attack was the deadliest military action since the ceasefire was established in Idlib. According to reports, this attack coincided with the Syrian Democratic Forces, including a coalition of Kurds and Arabs, beginning the 'cleansing' of the town of Baghouz in the eastern Deir ez-Zor province from ISIS fighters. Reuters reports that the Democratic Forces launched an attack on the remaining ISIS forces in Baghouz while US bombings provided a protective umbrella for their ground operations. Some Arab media reports indicate that the US targeted locations likely to harbor ISIS leaders with heavy bombings to assist the advance of its supported coalition forces. Many assessments suggest that the last surviving ISIS commanders, after years of heavy fighting, have taken refuge in the Baghouz area and are directing battles while being besieged. The Democratic Forces had besieged Baghouz for several weeks, waiting for the operation to begin, which commenced on Sunday evening following the evacuation of remaining civilians, including thousands of women and children. Reports indicate that commanders, snipers, and other ISIS forces have strapped on explosive belts and are prepared for suicide attacks in tunnels and mined areas. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, about 300 ISIS fighters, including a group of 20 foreign fighters and their families, were among the civilians who were transferred to Kurdish-controlled areas until last Friday. A straightforward ground battle is not expected for the Democratic Forces, as ISIS has managed to intimidate the enemy from approaching the area by digging tunnels and mining the surrounding land. The Democratic Forces have launched attacks from two axes, and their advance on the first day was not very rapid. The Kurdish and Arab coalition had assessed last week that their operation would be completed within a week after its commencement, and ISIS militants would be expelled from the area. However, Adnan Afrin, a spokesperson for the Kurdish forces in the coalition, stated that a timeline for achieving the ultimate goals of the battles cannot be determined at this time. Mr. Afrin described the battles on Sunday as 'direct' and 'intense,' although the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that ISIS did not show the expected resistance on the first day. Since its emergence in Syria about five years ago, ISIS has still retained part of its last strongholds in this part of Deir ez-Zor. ISIS, which at its peak controlled a vast area of Syria and Iraq, was expelled from large areas of Syria following its defeat in Iraq, and its retreat from its last strongholds in the Baghouz area holds strategic significance. According to the spokesperson for the Kurdish fighters, even if the area is completely cleared of ISIS, since the Islamic Caliphate is an ideology and still has supporters willing to kill themselves to kill others, their threat should not be considered over.