Hundreds of civilians leave last IS-held enclave
- 5 years ago
Hundreds of civilians have been evacuated from the Islamic State group's last sliver of land in eastern Syria.
For more on this and other news around the world we turn to our Ro Aram…
Aram… it appears the final battle against ISIS is coming to an end?
Well Mark… We still have to wait before any final declaration of victory against the militant group is made.
The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces said Wednesday they are waiting for all civilians to leave before launching an offensive.
Hundreds of civilians left in a convoy of trucks on Wednesday, though exact numbers have not been announced.
The SDF are still being vigilant as some militants could be hiding among the evacuated civilians and a screening point has been set up as a precaution.
There were reports of a few militants surrendering, but the SDF said those reports could not be independently verified.
The jihadists had been holding the civilians hostage in order to buy time before what could be the final assault.
The SDF says ISIS fighters have been pushed back to a tiny tent camp on the banks of the Euphrates River.
Some 300 militants are said to be under siege in the town of Baghuz, with food, water and ammunition quickly running out.
If the SDF ends the territorial rule of ISIS, then it would allow President Trump to begin withdrawing American troops from northern Syria, as he has pledged to do.
However, there are still many who believe that the group's territorial defeat will not end the threat posed by the terrorists.
They still stage and inspire attacks overseas through sleeper cells in both Syria and Iraq.
For more on this and other news around the world we turn to our Ro Aram…
Aram… it appears the final battle against ISIS is coming to an end?
Well Mark… We still have to wait before any final declaration of victory against the militant group is made.
The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces said Wednesday they are waiting for all civilians to leave before launching an offensive.
Hundreds of civilians left in a convoy of trucks on Wednesday, though exact numbers have not been announced.
The SDF are still being vigilant as some militants could be hiding among the evacuated civilians and a screening point has been set up as a precaution.
There were reports of a few militants surrendering, but the SDF said those reports could not be independently verified.
The jihadists had been holding the civilians hostage in order to buy time before what could be the final assault.
The SDF says ISIS fighters have been pushed back to a tiny tent camp on the banks of the Euphrates River.
Some 300 militants are said to be under siege in the town of Baghuz, with food, water and ammunition quickly running out.
If the SDF ends the territorial rule of ISIS, then it would allow President Trump to begin withdrawing American troops from northern Syria, as he has pledged to do.
However, there are still many who believe that the group's territorial defeat will not end the threat posed by the terrorists.
They still stage and inspire attacks overseas through sleeper cells in both Syria and Iraq.