The fall of more human losses in the battles of the east of the Euphrates raises to about 180, the number of fighters of SDF and ISIS who were killed in 11 days of fierce battles
Deir Ezzor Province – The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored that the enclave which is controlled by the “Islamic State” organization, at the eastern banks of the Euphrates River, has been witnessing fighting, shelling and bringing reinforcements for the 11 consecutive day since the start of the military operation on the 10th of September 2018, and in the details obtained by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights; a column of the International Coalition of 4 US Hummer vehicles, and 2 carriers transporting the weapons and ammunition as well as a bulldozer, headed towards the enclave which is controlled by the organization, on the eastern banks of the Euphrates River, in the eastern sector of Deir Ezzor countryside, followed by shelling by 2 missiles fired from the International Coalition’s base in Al-Omar Oilfield, on the controlled areas of the organization, while the renewed shelling which witnessed a cessation during the last night, is accompanied by violent clashes between the Syria Democratic Forces supported by the International Coalition against the members of the “Islamic State” organization, in the areas of Al-Baghuz, Al-Susah and the vicinity and outskirts of the enclave, amid exchange of targeting in the clash areas, amid the overflight of the International Coalition’s warplanes over the area, and their targeting from time to time, to ISIS controlled areas and positions in the same enclave, and the Syrian Observatory learned that 7 members at least of Deir Ezzor Military Council were killed due to landmine explosions and in clashes against ISIS members, in addition to the injury of a large numbers of fighters during their advancement operations in Al-Baghuz area, also 13 members at least of the organization were killed in the shelling and clashes witnessed in the enclave in the past 36 hours, raising to 68 at least -one of them is a field commander of Deir Ezzor Military Council of the Syria Democratic Forces- the number SDF members killed since the 10th of September 2018, while it rose to at least 110, the number of fighters of the “Islamic State” organization who were killed in these clashes, and the death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in critical situation, and because of information about other casualties.
The Syrian Observatory published yesterday, Wednesday the 19th of September 2018, that a counterattack has been carried out by members of the organization since morning on sites of the Syria Democratic Forces in al-Baghuz Foqani area, amid violent explosions caused by the detonating at least 2 booby-trapped vehicles by the organization, and confirmed information about more casualties in the ranks of both parties, the SOHR also published that a part of the Syria Democratic Forces of Hajin town are still refusing to go to fight the organization on the fronts of al-Baghuz and al-Susah protesting against stopping the military operations towards their Hajin town, while the other part of Hajin town are still fighting the Organization in other fronts, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published this morning that the military operations of the Syria Democratic Forces supported by the International Coalition Forces continue at the expense of the “Islamic State” organization in the last enclave of ISIS in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, where the Syrian Observatory monitored the continuation of clashes between both parties at a varying pace, accompanied by aerial bombardment carried out occasionally by the International Coalition warplanes, in addition to rocket shelling by the Syria Democratic Forces on sites of the organization, and reliable sources informed the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that the advancement of SDF and the International Coalition in al-Baghuz area was hindered by trenches and tunnels that have been dug up by the Organization in orchards and fields in the area earlier, and also due to the laser mines that cannot be by seen by eyes which were planted by members of the Organization and injured many SDF members, in addition to the usual mines that were planted extensively in scattered areas controlled by the organization such as homes, roads, fields, and orchards, the sources added that the suicide and surprise attacks carried out by members of the “Islamic State” organization are also hindering the advancement, where the majority of the organization’s members are of Asian nationalities and the organization is carrying out surprise and suicidal operations in a few numbers that does not exceed 5 members and they get active in the evening, which prompted the Syria Democratic Forces to stop their military operations at night, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also learned that a mine sweeper belongs to the International Coalition Forces was damaged days ago as a result of the explosion of a barrel planted underground by the “Islamic State” organization; during the mine-clearing operation in the area.
The Syrian Observatory published also published on Tuesday, that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights obtained information from a number of reliable sources, which confirmed to the SOHR that 2 columns of the International Coalition one of them includes 5 mine sweepers, and another one includes 9 Hummer vehicles, headed today morning and afternoon, Tuesday the 18th of September 2018, to the contact lines with the “Islamic State” organization, in the last enclave under its control in the eastern sector of Deir Ezzor countryside, and this is coincided with ongoing violent clashes between the Syria Democratic Forces supported by the International Coalition against the members of the “Islamic State” organization of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, in areas in the enclave which is located on the eastern banks of the Euphrates River, and the violent clashes are accompanied by renewed shelling by the International Coalition and SDF, amid exchange of targeting in the clash areas between the latter against the organization, the SOHR also monitored heavy overflight of the International Coalition’s warplanes over the area, and their targeting from time to time, to ISIS controlled areas and positions in the same enclave, and the reliable sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory that the fighting is still violent and the battles witness difficulties as a result of the intensity of tunnels which the organization depends on, and which had been dug before the military operations in this enclave started, and the Syria Democratic Forces depend on the advancement operations during the daytime and leave their places during the nighttime or retreat for fear of counterattacks that are carried out by booby trapped vehicles and suicide bombers, and the reliable sources confirmed to the SOHR that the organization was observed bringing military reinforcements and equipment from the west of the Euphrates transporting them to its last enclave in the east of the Euphrates, while the sources confirmed that the International Coalition’s warplanes deliberately delay their strikes for fear of carrying out massacres against the citizens remained in ISIS last enclave in the east of the Euphrates, the Syrian Observatory published, that it monitored artillery shelling by the International Coalition by tens of artillery and rocket shells, which caused further material damage and destruction to the infrastructure.