US-backed force says resuming anti-IS assault in eastern Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria: A Kurdishled force backed by a US-led antijihadist coalition said Sunday that it was resuming its offensive against the Islamic State group in eastern Syria.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an Arab-Kurdish alliance, had announced it was suspending its operation on October 31 after Turkey shelled Kurdish militia posts in northern Syria.
The SDF said the resumption followed “intensive contacts” with the international coalition and “strong diplomatic activity” to defuse the crisis.
“The leadership of the Syrian Democratic Forces has decided to resume military operations against the Islamic State group, and work towards its definitive defeat,” the force said in an online statement.
“While it remains determined to chase down terrorism, (the SDF) also confirms its determination to protect the northern border of Syria,” it added.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said the operation had not yet restarted, although SDF reinforcements had been sent to the area.
However it said the international coalition had continued to conduct air raids on the area, killing dozens of jihadists as well as civilians.
The Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of contacts across Syria, has reported near-daily Turkish shelling in Kurdish areas since late October, which killed five Kurdish fighters.
But on Sunday it said coalition officials had assured Kurdish forces that Turkey would cease its shelling, adding that there had been no bombardment there since Friday. — AFP