YPG-led forces liberate villages from IS, repel attacks in east Syria

DEIR AL-ZOR, Syria (Kurdistan 24) – The US-backed Syrian Kurdish-Arab alliance said on Saturday they liberated several villages from the Islamic State (IS) in the eastern countryside of Deir Al-Zor province and repelled attacks on a major field near borders with Iraq.

A Kurdistan 24 correspondent embedded with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reported the SDF liberated the Shal village, about 40 km east to Deir al-Zor city, and killed about 10 IS militants.

The SDF also repelled an IS attack on Al-Tanak oil field, 35 km east to Deir al-Zor city, an SDF online statement said.

Al-Tanak oil field near the border with Iraq was liberated from IS last week.

The SDF stated they advanced about 10 km to the east after repelling the attacks and destroying several armored vehicles used by IS in the counter-attack.

In the northern countryside of Deir al-Zor, IS militants killed 20 civilians and wounded about 30 in a car bomb attack in Faraj village, SDF reported.

Additionally, the SDF media said they killed 34 IS militants in the town of Suwar where the SDF fighters are advancing to the south and east, nearing the borders with Iraq.

Last week, the SDF liberated the town of Markada, an important base for operations in the southern countryside of Hasaka province.

The Syrian army also claimed to have ousted the jihadist group from Albu Kamal town, the last city that the militant group held in Syria, near the border with Iraq but IS regained the control of the city the next day.

The SDF, of which the Kurdish YPG is a leading component, launched an offensive on Deir al-Zor province in September and so far has seized most areas of northern Euphrates River from IS.

Editing by Sam A.