Kurdish forces clear last IS forces from along Euphrates River

Syria’s main Kurdish forces say they have successfully cleared areas east of the Euphrates river of Islamic State militants. Noureddine Mahmoud, spokesman for the People’s Defense Units, known as the YPG, and the backbone of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) made the announcement.

He praised US and Russian air and logistical support along with successful ground operations coordination and told how forces were now ready to form joint operation rooms with the different partners to complete the fight against IS. “We hope for an increase of the support and ensuring air protection and necessary cover,” Mahmoud said at a press conference in al-salihiya.

The press conference was attended by a Russian general from the Russian base in Hmeimeem, in western Syria.

The SDF have been battling IS fighters east of the Euphrates river in Deir el Zour province since September.

In a separate campaign, Syrian government forces, backed by Russia and allied Iranianbacked militia, have been chasing IS militants on the other side of the river.

Mr Mahmoud also praised the role tribal leaders played in the fight against IS in the oil-rich Deir el-zour province, where tribesmen play an integral role in consolidating power there.

The extent of SDF cooperation with Russian forces and their Syrian allies, however, is not clear. The Kurdish-led forces now control nearly 25 percent of Syrian territories and important oil resources after their battlefield successes in northern and eastern Syria.

They are landlocked and economically dependent on areas controlled by the Syrian government, as well as on borders controlled either by Iraqi forces or the Syrian government.

Meanwhile, building relationships with the tribal leaders in Deir el-zour is an essential part of any effort to continue to hold ground. Arab tribes are skeptical of the Kurdishled forces, although they have previously worked together, with US support.

But Washington’s support for the SDF has come into question after the fall of the IS de-facto capital of Raqqa and the near collapse of the militants in Syria.

Turkey, which considers the dominant Kurdish group in the force an extension of its own insurgent group, has protested Washington’s reliance on the SDF, as well as the provision of heavy weaponry to its fighters, in the fight against IS.

On his way to Cairo, Mattis told reporters Friday that the US will stop arming the Kurdish forces, turning to stabilization efforts and supporting the diplomatic process in Syria.