YPG-led forces make headway in Deir al-Zor Province

DEIR AL-ZOR, Syria (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdish-led, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Sunday said they liberated dozens of villages in the Deir al-Zor Province gaining ground in an offensive to retake the city of Raqqa from Islamic State (IS) insurgents.

“About 30 villages and dozens of farms were liberated in the province of Deir al-Zor from [IS],” said Dijwar Khabat, an SDF commander.

Khabat told Kurdistan24 Abu Khashab, a strategic town in the Deir al-Zor Province, was completely under the control of the SDF.

In addition to the support of the US-led coalition airstrikes, hundreds of Arab fighters from rural areas in Deir al-Zor allied themselves to the SDF under the name Deir al-Zor Military Council.

An Arab fighter within the SDF ranks called Abu Khawla told Kurdistan24 their plan was to separate Deir al-Zor from Raqqa.

“In a few days, we will reach the Euphrates,” he said.

Both provinces are currently under the control of IS.

Moreover, the SDF crossed into Deir al-Zor Province for the first time last week as part of the offensive dubbed “Wrath of the Euphrates” to retake Raqqa.

“SDF military operations are now taking place within the provincial boundaries of Deir al-Zor, from the north – so, via southern Hasaka (province),” a Kurdish military source told Reuters last week.

The first phase of the Raqqa operation targeting areas north of the city was launched in November 2016.

The second phase targeting areas west of the city resumed in December and is ongoing to capture the IS-held Euphrates Dam.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany

(Kurdistan24 correspondent Ekrem Salih, embedded with the SDF, contributed to this report from northern Deir al-Zor)