Jihadists are pinned down in battle for Isil’s last square mile

US-BACKED troops yesterday battled at Syria’s eastern edge to oust Isil from the last square mile of the group’s onces-prawling so-called caliphate.

More than four years into Operation Inherent Resolve, the Us-led coalition against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is close to claiming victory in the battle for territory once overrun by jihadists from all over the world.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led group and the lead coalition proxy on the ground, said late on Saturday that they would mount a final push following a week-long pause in fighting.

The SDF had claimed their forces had been forced to halt as Isil was using civilians as human shields.

However, it is understood the reason was to allow for negotiations between the SDF and Isil, which had been seeking safe passage to other desert areas of Syria in return for the release of dozens of SDF fighters captured in battle.

Talks collapsed on Friday and on Saturday Isil released a video of the execution of two Arab members of the SDF.

The SDF, backed by coalition air power including UK support, has

As their ground shrinks, the jihadists maintain a network of supporters that spans the globe

mowed through Isil’s former territory, moving south to a one square mile wedge of land bordered by the Iraqi border to the east and the Euphrates river to the west.

The SDF yesterday pushed towards the village of Baghuz, where it is estimated up to 600 jihadists could remain, including many foreign fighters.

“Our forces are relying on direct combat with light weapons,” said Mustafa Bali, the SDF spokesman. He added that his men had captured 41 jihadist positions before the day’s end.

Just inside Iraq, French troops were poised to ambush any jihadists trying to escape across the border they once bulldozed through with ease.

Coalition deputy commander Christopher Ghika last week said Iraqi forces had sealed their border with Syria.

But even as the physical ground held by the jihadists shrinks, the terror group maintains a network of cells and supporters that spans the globe.

The presence of hundreds of foreign fighters and their wives and children raises difficult questions about the group’s legacy and the willingness of other countries to tackle it head-on.

The coalition’s aim of dismantling and destroying Isil is also challenged by the spectre of Isil leader Abu-bakr al-baghdadi. The self-proclaimed caliph has long been in hiding but still communicates with recorded messages from his secret hideout.