ISIS Fighters Attack US-backed Forces Near Syrian-Iraqi Border (Photos)South Front

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On February 16, ISIS fighters conducted a hit and run attack on several positions of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) northeast of the village of al-Shaafah, according to the ISIS-linked news agency Amaq. Al-Shaafah is located near the Syrian-Iraqi border, in the southeastern Deir Ezzor countryside.

Amaq said that eight SDF fighters had been killed and one other had been captured by ISIS fighters. Moreover, a vehicle of the US-backed forces was reportedly destroyed.

Amaq also reported that ISIS fighters had clashed with the SDF inside the village of al-Bahrah, 20km north of al-Shaafah. During the clashes ISIS fighters killed four members of the SDF and injured two others with rocket-propelled grenades and ATGMs, according to Amaq.

The US-backed forces imposed its control over large parts of al-Bahrah on February 14, according to Kurdish sources.

From its side, the US-led coalition revealed that its warplanes had conducted 39 airstrikes against targets of ISIS in Syria between February 9 and February 15.

On February 16, several local sources reported that US-led coalition warplanes had hit at least one position of the SDF by mistake.

The SDF and the US-led coalition have slowed down their anti-ISIS operations in eastern Syria since early 2018. Many Syrian pro-government activists believe that the operations were slowed down in order to keep ISIS as an excuse for the US military presence in Syria.

Photos of the ISIS attack northeast of al-Shaafah: