Rebel groups launch assault on Syria’s Dabiq
ERBIL, Kurdistan – An assault on the Syrian village of Dabiq to liberate it from the Islamic State (ISIS) was launched on Saturday, according to a rebel commander and a monitor.
A rebel commander involved in the offensive under Turkey’s Euphrates Shield operation in northern Syria said the attack began Saturday morning, Reuters reported.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday it had received reports that rebel forces launched the attack after a massive bombardment on the Dabiq area.
The Turkish military said the operation for Dabiq has been ongoing for more than a week.
“The operation for Dabiq started 10 days ago. We started the effort to take control of the region from the south. Daesh targets are being hit by Turkish fighter jets and artillery,” Reuters reported a military source saying.
In early October, the Observatory reported that Turkish-backed rebels were within three kilometres of the strategic town. They were also receiving air support from the US-led global coalition. Brett McGurk, the US special envoy, tweeted that they were “actively supporting” the rebel groups advancing within kilometres of Dabiq.
Earlier this week, the rebel forces took control of at least 14 villages in the Dabiq area, backed by Turkish tanks and warplanes.
Dabiq is a small northern Syrian village that is a theological heartland for ISIS. According to one reading of ISIS doctrine, the final battle between good and evil will take place here.
ISIS, however, in a recent edition of its online publication al-Naba, said that the battle in Dabiq between their militants and the rebel groups was not the one prophesized.
A rebel commander involved in the offensive under Turkey’s Euphrates Shield operation in northern Syria said the attack began Saturday morning, Reuters reported.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday it had received reports that rebel forces launched the attack after a massive bombardment on the Dabiq area.
The Turkish military said the operation for Dabiq has been ongoing for more than a week.
“The operation for Dabiq started 10 days ago. We started the effort to take control of the region from the south. Daesh targets are being hit by Turkish fighter jets and artillery,” Reuters reported a military source saying.
In early October, the Observatory reported that Turkish-backed rebels were within three kilometres of the strategic town. They were also receiving air support from the US-led global coalition. Brett McGurk, the US special envoy, tweeted that they were “actively supporting” the rebel groups advancing within kilometres of Dabiq.
Earlier this week, the rebel forces took control of at least 14 villages in the Dabiq area, backed by Turkish tanks and warplanes.
Dabiq is a small northern Syrian village that is a theological heartland for ISIS. According to one reading of ISIS doctrine, the final battle between good and evil will take place here.
ISIS, however, in a recent edition of its online publication al-Naba, said that the battle in Dabiq between their militants and the rebel groups was not the one prophesized.