ANTI-ISIL FORCES RACE TO RECLAIM DAM BEFORE COLLAPSE

BEIRUT U.S.-backed forces in Syria are rushing to retake its biggest dam from ISIL, amid warnings that it could collapse within 30 days.

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were airdropped by the U.S. just south of the Euphrates River last week in an effort to secure the Tabqa Dam. They inched nearer Monday, retaking a strategic airbase close by.

The dam, which has been in ISIL hands for two years, was put out of service last Sunday by fighting. Water levels behind the structure have now risen enough to put it at risk of collapse. ISIL issued a statement ordering residents of Tabqa and nearby Raqqa to leave, blaming U.S. airstrikes.

The United Nations has warned that damage to the dam, which supplies electricity to much of Syria, could lead to “massive scale flooding” across Raqqa and three cities downstream.

SDF forces control a spillway to the north that can alleviate pressure on the dam if needed. But Haytham Bakkour, an engineer at the dam for 10 years, said the situation was “critical” and he warned that unless it was made safe for staff to get in to manoeuvre the floodgates, there could be a “critical overflow” within 30 days.