Islamic State launches counterattack against Syrian forces

BAGUZ, Syria – Fighters Islamic State On Wednesday, they fought against the advances of US-backed militants and launched a counter-attack from the redoubt of territory that remains under their control in eastern Syria.

The counter-offensive of the extremists began at night from the west of its territory, at the edge of a river in Baguz, its last stronghold in the country, said a commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF ).

Fighting continued on Wednesday and Syrian Kurdish forces repelled the offensive, said the commander, who requested anonymity because he was not allowed to do so. report to the press.

The insurgents of the Islamic State opposed "fierce resistance" by firing mortar and grenade, said Adnan Afrin, spokesman for the FDS.

An SDF commander said they were trying to tighten control over the conquered areas on Tuesday afternoon. Another commander reported that at least four SDF fighters had died in collisions since dawn. Both leaders spoke on condition of anonymity.

A third commander, Dilbrin Nargiz, said that the counteroffensive of the Islamic State had started just before dawn. The fighters of the group also known by the acronym ISIS are generally limited to act during the day because they lack weapons and night vision lenses.

The offensive in Baguz also paralyzed Kurdish fighters, some of whom have been fighting the Islamic State for six years.

"We are all going to die long before the end of the war," said Simone Awad, a 22-year-old Kurdish fighter whose partner had been shot in the head shortly before. It was unclear whether the comrade taken to the hospital had survived.

The battle for Baguz and its neighboring villages began in September and Islamic State militants were forced to barricade themselves on a small territory, after bloody battles and prodigious setbacks.

The militia have been confined to this redoubt for several weeks on the banks of the Euphrates. Since the beginning of February, more than 10,000 civilians have been evacuated from the region, most of them close relatives of Islamic State fighters.