The eastern bank of the Euphrates River witnesses continued attack by the SDF to expand their control and decrease ISIS scope of control
Deir Ezzor Province – The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: the combat operations in the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, where the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored the continuation of clashes between the Syria Democratic Forces supported by the International Coalition against the members of the “Islamic State” organization, in areas in the vicinity and outskirts of Al-Baghuz Foqani town, near the Syrian – Iraqi border, in an attempt by the SDF to end the presence of the organization in the area and decrease its control in its last enclave remaining in the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, and the clashes are accompanied by artillery and rocket shelling by the SDF on ISIS controlled areas, amid targeting by the International Coalition’s warplanes to ISIS controlled areas, and confirmed information about human losses in the ranks of the both parties.
The SOHR published on the 14th of May 2018, that it monitored the Syria Democratic Forces supported by the International Coalition and in coordination with the Iraqi Forces; advancing and controlling the entire town of Baghuz on the Syrian – Iraqi border in the eastern banks of Euphrates River in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, after violent clashes since yesterday night against members of the “Islamic State” organization, where the sweep operation in the town is now underway, searching for members of the organization and dismantling the mines planted by members of the Organization, this control process came with rocket shelling support in addition to targeting by warplanes of the International Coalition for the clash areas every now and then, where the SDF are seeking through this tactic to force the organization to surrender by confining it in the narrowest possible space, the Syrian Observatory also published on the 12th of May 2018, that it obtained information from reliable sources which confirmed to the SOHR that the preparations of a massive military operation in ISIS last enclave in the east of the Euphrates River, are still continuing by the Syria Democratic Forces supported by the International Coalition, and the sources confirmed to the SOHR that a coordination is underway between the Iraqi forces and the SDF, to start a military operation in the enclave of the organization which is located at the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, and composed of the villages and towns of Hajin, Abu al-Hassan, Sha’afah, Al-Baghuz as well as their farms, to end the presence of the organization in the area, where groups of the SDF met with groups of the Iraqi forces located on the Syrian Border from the side of Iraq, and they agreed on a mechanism to start the military operation against the organization in this enclave.