On January 24, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced that its fighters captured the strategic town of Gharanij located 10km north of Haijn in southeastern Deir Ezzor. Th eSDF killed 7 members of ISIS and destroyed a vehicle and a bulldozer of the terrorist group during their final assault on Gharanij, according to the SDF’s media center.
The low number of ISIS casualties suggests that the terrorists were able to withdraw from Gharanij. Barq al-Shaitat, one of the SDF’s Arab units, said before that they will open a route to allow ISIS fighters to withdraw from the town.
Meanwhile, Kurdish sources reported that clashes erupted between the SDF and ISIS east of al-Shaafah south of Hajin . Furthermore, the US-led coalition revealed that its warplanes destroyed a HQ of ISIS and killed 150 ISIS fighters in al-Shaafah on January 20.
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From its side, the ISIS-linked news agency Amaq said that 14 civilians including 7 women were killed in the US-led coalition airstrikes on al-the village of Shaafah on January 23.
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Amaq also reported that ISIS fighters destroyed two armored vehicles of the SDF east of al-Shaafah with IEDs. Two other vehicles of the US-backed force were destroyed by ISIS fighters with ATGMs south of Hajin, according to the ISIS-linked news agency.
The SDF is likely planning to capture al-Shaafah in order to cut off Hajin from the Syrian-Iraqi border, before attacking ISIS inside the town.
Let’s see now – who to believe here: ISIS? SDF? CENTCOM? I’ll go with none of the above. They all lack credibility.
SDF claimed they had taken Gharanij at the beginning of December. Later that month, SOHR (I know…) said ISIS still had the town and the SDF was nowhere near it. Now the SDF says… does anyone really care at this point?
SDF (or whoever was wearing their uniforms) had no trouble grabbing the Omar and Tanak oil fields from ISIS and immediately selling the oil for itself, instead. Liberating the people/villages along the Euphrates from ISIS seems more of like a side-job to them, and one they’re reluctant to do. Tells you everything about their motivation.
Actually when you realize the US controls both sides in that conflict, the entire news of this “liberation” is basically a sham…
All three are the same.
SDF progress in eliminating the last ISIS strongholds as been slow. Just as slow as the SAA’s efforts to eliminate its ISIS pocket south of Deir Ezzor and east of Palmyra. Tells you everything about SAA motivation and the goals of their masters.
Guys im having a hard time knowing which one to root for since both the PKK and ISIS are funded by the US and have the exact same agenda, demolish Syria to the ground.
Its like choosing between Coca Cola and Fanta
Exactly, that is the idea (same creator Israel-USA-NATO).
moron , demolishing Syria is your country’s agenda.
I hate to defend it, but did he not just say that ?.
did he say it is Turkey’s agenda to destroy Syria?
Fck NO….. there is something going on and I thought S-knob was saying the same thing.
It is getting interesting by the day. Now that we have Turkey getting in. Will Turkey be able to smash the battle hardened (or not) SDF separatists?
My wonder ; is this SDF propaganda , or are they actually fighting ISIS . Seems they , ISIS turned the oil fields over to SDF without a fight , and now they are fighting . Mmmmm smells like an American “reason to be there” .
“reason to be there” is spot on. Also SDF is in no rush to lose US money and weapons, so the E Euphrates map may look the same 3 months from now? But I guess the US has pissed off Turkey with their games. Now Trump’s hair will change from orange to gray, :D
Rather bizarre, killing 7 Isis and they flee? Propaganda for sure.
“one of the SDF’s Arab units, said before that they will open a route to allow ISIS fighters to withdraw from the town.”
Enough said – I think you comment is spot on. We are there to fight ISIS blah blah – BS BS.