Syrian regime forces, SDF converge on Daesh in separate offensives

province and staged attacks from the northern countryside and southern Hasaka, which is under YPG control.

The SDF, backed by US-led airstrikes and special forces on the ground, has captured most of Raqqa, upstream along the Euphrates, from Daesh.

Daesh has lost nearly half of its territory across both Iraq and Syria, but still has 6,000-8,000 fighters left in Syria, the US-led coalition has said.

The forces leading the SDF’s operation in Deir Ezzor say they do not expect clashes with Syrian regime forces, but will respond if they come under fire.

Syria’s crowded battleground has shown the risks of escalation between world powers militarily involved in the six-year-old Syrian conflict.

In June, a US warplane shot down a Syrian army jet near Raqqa in and the SDF accused the Syrian regime of bombing its positions, raising tension between Washington and Moscow.

The Cold War foes have also engaged over Syria, however, including setting up communication channels for flight safety in Syrian airspace.

Both countries say the priority in Syria is to defeat Daesh.

Rounds of Syria talks between world powers have increasingly focused on Daesh.

Negotiations where Syria’s opposition has repeatedly called for the removal of President Bashar Assad have failed to bring an end to the conflict.