Syrian Democratic Forces liberate Tishrin Dam

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have announced Saturday, December 26, that it has liberated the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates between Manbij and Raqqa, after violent confrontations with the Islamic State (ISIS) militants.

A K24 reporter from the site said combatants of the Syrian Democratic Forces had reached Tishrim Dam early this morning, and after besieging the dam and its surroundings, SDF fighters took control of the dam following clashes with ISIS militants in the surrounding area under air cover provided by the International Coalition aircrafts.

Colonel Talal Silo, a member of the SDF Senior Military Command, told K24, "Tishrin Dam and the east bank of the Euphrates have been liberated," pointing out that the clashes are still continuing on the western side of the dam.

"Soon, we hope to liberate the entire surrounding areas of the dam, which generates electricity to large areas of Aleppo, Manbij and Kobani," Colonel Silo added, noting that by liberating the dam, the three ISIS-held cities Raqqah, Manbij and Jarabulus have been cut off.

Colonel Silo also noted that dozens of ISIS militants were killed in the clashes.

The control of the dam came on the fourth day of the military campaign launched by U.S.-backed Syria Democratic Forces for expelling the terrorist group from Tishrin Dam, the most strategic point for ISIS in the Manbij area, and the main source of electricity in the region.

Last Wednesday, SDF announced the liberation of the first village in the southern area of Kobani, stating that after ongoing clashes, the forces gained control over the village of Saharij, south of Sarrin, a town in northern Syria northeast of Aleppo.

Two weeks ago, a statement by the General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces had announced its second campaign against ISIS.

"We declare the campaign of liberating Kobanî southern countryside, and our campaign will continue until the liberation of all the occupied territories in the southern countryside to Kobanî, restoring security and stability," the statement said.

Founded in October 2015, the Syrian Democratic Forces seek to expel ISIS from Raqqa area and other areas in Syria. These forces consider themselves a unified national military force to all Syrians consisting of Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians and all others living in the geographical locations of Syria. Furthermore, they are aiming to build a self-governing, inclusive and democratic Syria.

(Ridwan Bezar contributed to this report from Southern Kobani)