The extremist group declared a cross-border "caliphate" in Syria and Iraq in 2014, but various military campaigns have chipped it down to a fragment on the Iraqi border. After a pause of more than a week to allow out civilians, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) declared a last push to retake the "Baghouz pocket" from the extremists on Saturday. SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali said heavy clashes were ongoing on Tuesday, after hundreds fled the battle zone overnight. Coalition forces stood over about 20 men who were crouching on the ground. Trump shocked Washington's allies in December by announcing a pullout of all 2,000 US troops from war-torn Syria.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 12, 2019 15:45 UTC