Coalition strikes hit Islamic State targets after SDF operational pause

"The strikes killed IS terrorists and destroyed three operational facilities critical to IS’ operations," Army Colonel Sean Ryan, Spokesperson for Operation Inherent Resolve, told Kurdistan 24.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The US-led coalition on Saturday carried out several airstrikes targeting the so-called Islamic State (IS) in the Deir al-Zor province.

On Saturday, the official Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Military Operation And Coordination Centre said the coalition “conducted 22 strikes against IS targets destroying six IS headquarters and five weapons caches,” adding that “these targets were provided by IS members who know the end of the caliphate is near.”

Army Colonel Sean Ryan, Spokesperson for Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), confirmed that IS positions were targeted in Hajin.

“Coalition strikes targeted and destroyed three IS staging locations in Hajin,” he told Kurdistan 24.

“The strikes killed IS terrorists and destroyed three operational facilities critical to IS’ operations, and the battlefield assessment is being investigated.”

The general command of the SDF announced on Wednesday a temporary halt to an offensive against IS after Turkish attacks targeted the SDF-affiliated forces’ positions near Kobani, Tirbespî‎ (Al-Qahtaniyah), Manbij, and Tal Abyad.

According to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR), at least five were killed in the Turkish cross-border attacks, including one young girl in Tal Abyad.

Since Friday afternoon, there have been no further Turkish attacks, and one US patrol visited the area between Darbasiyah and Serêkaniyê (Ras al-Ayn), an SDF official and also the SOHR confirmed. 

Moreover, the SDF suffered setbacks when it lost some territory and lost several fighters after IS carried out a counterattack during a dust storm on Oct. 26.

However, the coalition said they had not seen any sign of new IS offensives.

“We have seen little [of IS] offensively minus sporadic fire during this pause,” Army Colonel Sean Ryan told Kurdistan 24.

According to the local news agency Deir Ezzor 24, clashes took place on Sunday between IS and the SDF on the outskirts of Hajin, in the east of Deir al-Zor.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany