Al Jazeera News :
At least 16 civilians, including seven children, have been killed in air attacks launched by a US-backed coalition fighting to push the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group fighters from their last enclave in eastern Syria, a war monitor has said.
Coalition fighter jets fired missiles in support of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Baghouz, a village in Deir Az Zor province, as part of a fierce battle to seize the final ISIL pocket in the country.
SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali said heavy clashes were ongoing on Tuesday after hundreds fled the battle zone overnight. There, some 600 ISIL fighters remain in a 4sq km area near the Iraqi border on the eastern banks of the Euphrates River.
The SDF, supported by a US-led coalition, announced a final push to retake Baghouz late on Saturday. Since then, some military advances have been made, but ISIL snipers and landmines have slowed the ground forces down.
Coalition spokesperson Sean Ryan said the US-backed forces were facing a fierce fightback.
“The progress is slow and methodical as the enemy is fully entrenched and
ISIL fighters continue to conduct counterattacks,” he said.
“The coalition continues to strike at ISIL targets whenever available.”
Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan, reporting from Turkey’s Gaziantep, said the air attacks that killed civilians took place on Monday, into the early hours of Tuesday morning on the outskirts of the village.
“These air strikes are designed to stop ISIL fighters from fleeing the area,” Khan said.
While about 1,500 civilians had fled the enclave on Monday, hundreds remain trapped inside.
According to Khan, there has been a pause in the fighting.
“We’re hearing the SDF forces and ISIL fighters are negotiating a humanitarian corridor to allow civilians trapped in the area to come out safely,” he said.
“However, that hasn’t happened yet.
At least 16 civilians, including seven children, have been killed in air attacks launched by a US-backed coalition fighting to push the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group fighters from their last enclave in eastern Syria, a war monitor has said.
Coalition fighter jets fired missiles in support of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Baghouz, a village in Deir Az Zor province, as part of a fierce battle to seize the final ISIL pocket in the country.
SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali said heavy clashes were ongoing on Tuesday after hundreds fled the battle zone overnight. There, some 600 ISIL fighters remain in a 4sq km area near the Iraqi border on the eastern banks of the Euphrates River.
The SDF, supported by a US-led coalition, announced a final push to retake Baghouz late on Saturday. Since then, some military advances have been made, but ISIL snipers and landmines have slowed the ground forces down.
Coalition spokesperson Sean Ryan said the US-backed forces were facing a fierce fightback.
“The progress is slow and methodical as the enemy is fully entrenched and
ISIL fighters continue to conduct counterattacks,” he said.
“The coalition continues to strike at ISIL targets whenever available.”
Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan, reporting from Turkey’s Gaziantep, said the air attacks that killed civilians took place on Monday, into the early hours of Tuesday morning on the outskirts of the village.
“These air strikes are designed to stop ISIL fighters from fleeing the area,” Khan said.
While about 1,500 civilians had fled the enclave on Monday, hundreds remain trapped inside.
According to Khan, there has been a pause in the fighting.
“We’re hearing the SDF forces and ISIL fighters are negotiating a humanitarian corridor to allow civilians trapped in the area to come out safely,” he said.
“However, that hasn’t happened yet.
