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On September 20, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) imposed control of the key town of al-Baghuz al-Fawqani in the southeastern Deir Ezzor countryside after three days of heavy clashes with ISIS fighters, according to the SDF media center.
“Our forces managed today, 20 September 2018, to complete the liberation of the town of al-Baghuz and expelled the mercenaries from it, thus our forces liberated the most important town where the terrorist organization was hiding,” the SDF media center said in a short statement.
Few hours earlier, the SDF reported that its fighters killed 31 members of the terrorist group during an advance on positions in Baghuz al-Fawqani and in the town of Hajin, north of it. US-backed forces also claimed that it destroyed two vehicles, several mortar cannons and five vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs).
The attack on al-Baghuz al-Fawqani was backed by US-led coalition warplanes, which conducted more than 15 airstrikes on positions and vehicles of the terrorist group in the last 24 hours.
The next target of the SDF will likely be the town of al-Susah, which is located only 5km to the north of al-Baghuz al-Fawqani. ISIS fighters will likely fail to hold onto their positions in the town because of the heavy firepower of the US-led coalition.
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