Kurdish-led SDF forces kill 219 IS militants in northern Syria
TISHRIN DAM, Syria (K24) – Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced in a statement Wednesday that it killed 219 IS militants in its second military campaign, in northern Syria, a K24 correspondent embedded with the SDF reported.
Colonel Talal Silo, spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces, said, “Our forces, in collaboration with international coalition air strikes, liberated about one hundred villages in south Kobani and killed at least 219 terrorists .”
Two weeks ago, SDF liberated about 50 villages south of the city of Kobani and then began its campaign to liberate Tishrin Dam.
“Our forces liberated the strategic Tishrin Dam, which served as IS' main supply route between Raqqa and Aleppo, and we have fortified our positions in the vicinity of the dam to prevent any counter-attacks,” he said.
Colonel Silo also said that the liberation of Tishreen Dam, located along the Euphrates River is the main source of electricity and water for surrounding towns and villages. Moreover, it separates the cities of Raqqa and Manbij, the largest IS-held areas in Syria.
Regarding SDF casualties, Silo said nine fighters were killed in the ongoing campaign so far.
An SDF fighter told the K24 reporter that they won the battle in a very short time, with the support of the U.S.-led coalition’s warplanes.
Founded in October 2015, the Syrian Democratic Forces seek to expel IS from Raqqa and other areas in Syria. These forces consider themselves a unified national military force for all Syrians and consists of Kurds, Arabs, Assyrian Christians, and others. SDF aims at building a self-governing, inclusive and democratic Syria.