Kurds take last IS Syrian town

Us-backed, Kurdish-led fighters have captured the last town held by the IS group after days of intense battles in the militants’ remaining enclave in eastern Syria, activists said.

The fall of Hajin is a blow to the extremists. The town was their main stronghold in the last pocket of land they control in eastern Syria, near the Iraqi border. IS still holds some villages nearby.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have been fighting to take Hajin in Deir el-zour province for more than three months. In recent weeks, the offensive intensified with the arrival of reinforcements from northern Syria and increased air strikes.