Backed by the US-led coalition, the SDF renewed its assault Sunday after warning remaining Islamic State fighters their time was up. Thousands handed themselves over Tuesday, after a deluge of fire hit the Islamic State encampment the previous night. Attack slows on Islamic State Syria pocket to save civilians: official“The objective of our advance is to terrorise Islamic State fighters so they surrender, and for the civilians to come out,” said the 27-year-old. At the height of its brutal rule, Islamic State controlled a stretch of land in Syria and Iraq the size of the United Kingdom. But beyond Baghouz, Islamic State retains a presence in eastern Syria’s vast Badia desert and sleeper cells in the northeast.

Source: The Express Tribune March 13, 2019 05:15 UTC