U.S.-backed Syria Kurds: Areas east of Euphrates free of ISIS

BEIRUT — Syria’s main Kurdish forces declared Sunday that they have successfully cleared areas east of the Euphrates river of Islamic State militants, with help from the U.S.-led coalition and Russian forces.

The announcement comes after U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said Washington will stop arming the YPG as offensive operations come to an end.

Noureddine Mahmoud, spokesman for the People’s Defense Units, known as the YPG, and the backbone of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, praised U.S. and Russian air and logistical support as well as ground operations coordination. He said his forces are ready to form joint operation rooms with the different partners to complete the fight against Islamic State, also known as ISIS.

“We hope for an increase of the support and ensuring air protection and necessary cover,” Mahmoud said in al-Salihiya, a town in Deir el-Zour province. The news conference was attended by a general from the Russian base in western Syria.

The Syrian Democratic Forces have been battling ISIS east of the Euphrates river in Deir el-Zour province since September. In a separate campaign, Syrian government forces, backed by Russia and allied Iranian-backed militia, have been chasing ISIS on the other side of the river.

Russia and the U.S. kept in contact, in so-called deconfliction talks, to prevent clashes between the two forces. U.S. officials said communication was also maintained on the ground, including in meetings between Syrian Democratic Forces commanders and their counterparts on the government side. Mahmoud also praised the role tribal leaders played in the fight against ISIS in oil-rich Deir el-Zour province.