Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Syria rebels battle IS at Iraqi border, aim to cut 'caliphate' in two
Source: Reuters
World | Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:16am EDT
Syria rebels battle IS at Iraqi border, aim to cut 'caliphate' in two
AMMAN/BEIRUT | BY SULEIMAN AL-KHALIDI AND TOM PERRY
Syrian rebels advanced into an Islamic State-held town at the border with Iraq on Wednesday, a rebel commander told Reuters, in a new U.S.-backed offensive aimed at cutting the jihadists' self-declared caliphate in two.
The operation aiming to capture the eastern Syrian town of Al-Bukamal, which began on Tuesday, adds to the pressure facing Islamic State as it faces a separate, U.S.-backed offensive in northern Syria aimed at driving it away from the Turkish border.
The offensive is being waged by rebels of the "New Syria Army" formed some 18 months ago from insurgents driven from eastern Syria at the height of Islamic State's rapid expansion in 2014. Rebel sources say it has been trained with U.S. support.
"The clashes are inside the (town) and matters are not yet settled," said the rebel commander of the Asala wa-al-Tanmiya Front, one of the main elements of the New Syria Army. The rebel forces entered the town at dawn, he said.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Syria rebels battle IS at Iraqi border, aim to cut 'caliphate' in two
AMMAN/BEIRUT | BY SULEIMAN AL-KHALIDI AND TOM PERRY
Syrian rebels advanced into an Islamic State-held town at the border with Iraq on Wednesday, a rebel commander told Reuters, in a new U.S.-backed offensive aimed at cutting the jihadists' self-declared caliphate in two.
The operation aiming to capture the eastern Syrian town of Al-Bukamal, which began on Tuesday, adds to the pressure facing Islamic State as it faces a separate, U.S.-backed offensive in northern Syria aimed at driving it away from the Turkish border.
The offensive is being waged by rebels of the "New Syria Army" formed some 18 months ago from insurgents driven from eastern Syria at the height of Islamic State's rapid expansion in 2014. Rebel sources say it has been trained with U.S. support.
"The clashes are inside the (town) and matters are not yet settled," said the rebel commander of the Asala wa-al-Tanmiya Front, one of the main elements of the New Syria Army. The rebel forces entered the town at dawn, he said.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-border-idUSKCN0ZF0AW