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HASAKAH, Syria – Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have combined their efforts with the Iraqi Army to force ISIS remnants out of Syria’s desert province of Hasakah on its border with Iraq.
It has been nearly a year since the Iraqi and Syrian governments declared the end of ISIS, but operations to defeat the group are still ongoing, particularly in the porous border areas.
The desert areas between Mosul and Anbar in Iraq and Deir ez-Zor in Syria still provide a network for ISIS remnants.
“There is seven kilometers of [land controlled by] Daesh [ISIS] in the sector between the Iraqi-Syrian border. The Syrian Democratic Forces continue liberating. We want to liberate Twemeyn until we reach the desert. We won’t even leave the desert for Daesh,” an SDF commander in Dashisha told Rudaw.
With just 10 kilometers left uncleared ahead, the Iraqi Army and these forces will soon meet, leaving ISIS nowhere to hide in Hasakah.
“We coordinated with the Iraqi Army. Our forces reached the border. Now they are positioned at the Iraqi border. We are also on the border. We created a forward line between us and the Iraqi Army, a line for them and a line for us,” an SDF soldier told Rudaw.
Mop up campaigns are ongoing in the liberated villages as forces suspect ISIS militants are still hiding out there.
The residents of the Dashisha area are happy their areas are now controlled by the SDF.
Na’yima is nearly 75 years old. Her sons and daughters are happy, as they believe drinkable water will soon return.
“Daesh stripped and took possession. They wouldn’t even allow us out of the house. They killed us from thirst. They wore us out. They wouldn’t give us water. We wouldn’t get out, nothing. They wore us out,” Na’yima told Rudaw.
According to the people of Rajmi al-Hajar, a village on the Iraqi-Syrian border, ISIS once had an operation room in the area with many underground tunnels.
“Daesh was positioned here in this tunnel. Part of it was for their leadership, while the other part was for directing attacks. The directions all came out from this village. [It was] a strategic location for Daesh. With the fall of this place, Daesh couldn’t have a presence anywhere. This was strategic. This place is elevated. It could monitor all fronts and all areas,” an SDF commander told Rudaw.
Similar tunnels may still exist, allowing ISIS fighters to cross freely between Syria and Iraq.
It has been nearly a year since the Iraqi and Syrian governments declared the end of ISIS, but operations to defeat the group are still ongoing, particularly in the porous border areas.
The desert areas between Mosul and Anbar in Iraq and Deir ez-Zor in Syria still provide a network for ISIS remnants.
“There is seven kilometers of [land controlled by] Daesh [ISIS] in the sector between the Iraqi-Syrian border. The Syrian Democratic Forces continue liberating. We want to liberate Twemeyn until we reach the desert. We won’t even leave the desert for Daesh,” an SDF commander in Dashisha told Rudaw.
With just 10 kilometers left uncleared ahead, the Iraqi Army and these forces will soon meet, leaving ISIS nowhere to hide in Hasakah.
“We coordinated with the Iraqi Army. Our forces reached the border. Now they are positioned at the Iraqi border. We are also on the border. We created a forward line between us and the Iraqi Army, a line for them and a line for us,” an SDF soldier told Rudaw.
Mop up campaigns are ongoing in the liberated villages as forces suspect ISIS militants are still hiding out there.
The residents of the Dashisha area are happy their areas are now controlled by the SDF.
Na’yima is nearly 75 years old. Her sons and daughters are happy, as they believe drinkable water will soon return.
“Daesh stripped and took possession. They wouldn’t even allow us out of the house. They killed us from thirst. They wore us out. They wouldn’t give us water. We wouldn’t get out, nothing. They wore us out,” Na’yima told Rudaw.
According to the people of Rajmi al-Hajar, a village on the Iraqi-Syrian border, ISIS once had an operation room in the area with many underground tunnels.
“Daesh was positioned here in this tunnel. Part of it was for their leadership, while the other part was for directing attacks. The directions all came out from this village. [It was] a strategic location for Daesh. With the fall of this place, Daesh couldn’t have a presence anywhere. This was strategic. This place is elevated. It could monitor all fronts and all areas,” an SDF commander told Rudaw.
Similar tunnels may still exist, allowing ISIS fighters to cross freely between Syria and Iraq.
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