US-backed fighters in Syria push to retake area from Daesh near Turkish border

Reports from Syria say thousands of US-backed fighters have launched an offensive to retake a crucial swathe of land near the Turkish border from Daesh.

The US says mostly Syrian Arab fighters are involved in the battle for the Manbij Pocket, with American special forces advisors away from the frontline. The operation could take weeks to complete.

It aims to choke off Daesh’s access to Syrian territory along the Turkish border that militants have long used as a logistics base for moving foreign fighters back and forth to Europe.

“It’s significant in that it’s their last remaining funnel” to Europe, a US military official said.

Contradicting the US description of those involved in the attempted recapture, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group says that mainly Kurdish YPG militia are taking part.

It says US-led air strikes in the area have killed 15 civilians.

Turkey considers the Syrian Kurdish YPG a “terrorist” organization and has been enraged by USbacking for the militia in its battle with Daesh in Syria.

Separately, the Turkish military says it has shelled Daesh targets north of Aleppo in Syria, killing 14 militants.

NATO member Turkey is a member of the US-led coalition fighting Daesh in Syria and Iraq.