About 130 people surrender to SDF near ISIS-held Hajin - monitor
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Some 100 women and children, and 30 men turned themselves over to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in one of ISIS's last strongholds in Hajin, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Saturday.
They included Syrians and non-Syrians. The Observatory suggested they were taken to SDF-guarded camps.
Hajin is just north of Al Boukamal in the Euphrates River Valley on the border with Iraq.
"Reliable sources" told the Observatory that three ISIS members of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities surrendered to the SDF on Wednesday. Additionally 11 women and children turned themselves over to the SDF.
The SDF and the US-led international coalition began the third phase of Operation Roundup on September 3 to clear the area east of the Euphrates of ISIS fighters.
Prior to the operation they dropped leaflets informing people of safe routes to flee. It is unclear how many people remain in the area.
Operation Roundup began on May 1.
Iraqi Security Forces have supported the operation with air strikes.