Kurdish Forces and Allies Make Gains Against ISIL in Syria, Capture dozens of Villages

Hasakah (k24) - A Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) offensive supported by coalition air strikes continue in the North Eastern Hasakah province. The offensive that began in late October aims to capture Al-Hawl 40, a town of 4,000 people under the control of the so-called Islamic State. To date, the SDF that is made up of Kurdish People`s Protection Units (YPG), Arab Al-Sanadid Army, and the Syriac Military Council, have liberated some 250-square kilometers and taken control of more than 50 villages in the area in Eastern Hasakah, close to the Iraqi border.

A K24 reporter in Hasakah stated that SDF has also managed to take Lake Khatuniyya from IS. He reports that these forces are within three kilometers of Al-Hawl's periphery. SDF officials say their forces killed 14 IS fighters on Wednesday along two different fronts.

The SDF objectives in this offensive are to go further south towards Ash Shaddadi, an IS stronghold and cut the main route with the Iraqi city of Mosul.

Additionally, the US-led anti-IS coalition has intensified airstrikes in support of SDF offensive on Al-Hawl. A press release by US military Combined Joint Task Force published on Wednesday says five airstrikes were conducted out on Tuesday near Al-Hawl, including one that destroyed an IS VBIED. The press release added that coalition aircrafts carried out two further strikes near Hasakah.