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Clashes between the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and ISIS militants are ongoing in the following areas:
- The first, second and third districts;
- The Euphrates dam north of the town of Tabqa;
- The villages of Safsafa, Abad and Sahl Khashab.
SDF units killed some 15 ISIS militants in northern districts of Tabqa town. They also seized many weapons, according to pro-SDF sources.
At Sahl Khashab, some ISIS militants were killed as a result of an explosion of land mine planted by the SDF. Meanwhile, the US-led coalition’s air power targeted ISIS militants in the village with 6 airstrikes.
During the clashes in the villages of Safsafa and Abad, the SDF reportedly killed 40 ISIS militants, including two ISIS commanders, as well as captured a rocket launcher along with other ammunition and weapons.
ISIS militants attacked members of the SDF and the PKK (allegedly) in the western Karama area north of Raqqa.
They also targeted two vehicles belonging to the SDF with armed drone in the villages of Al-Jarbua and Al-Hikma in the northern Raqqa countryside.
Al-Jarbua
Al Hikmah
Al Hikmah
A SDF military commander, Jihan Sheikh Ahmed, has denied reports that the SDF allowed militants and their families to withdraw from the town of Tabqa.
Local sources reported that ISIS snipers are firing at any civilian trying to leave the villages of Safsafa, Abad or Sahl Khashab in the vicinity of Tabqa town.
Weapons captured by the SDF:
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Looks like ISIS left the defenders with junk weapons and munitions that were scraped up from the bottom of the barrel.
ISIS never attacks head on. They recognized they could not meet the SDF with American support so they are resorting to guerilla tactics.