Small Wars Journal

Syria: U.S.-Backed Fighters Resume Final Offensive Against ISIS After Pause to Deal with Turkish Tensions

Wed, 11/14/2018 - 5:39am

Syria: U.S.-Backed Fighters Resume Final Offensive Against ISIS After Pause to Deal with Turkish Tensions by Kyle Rempfer – Military Times

The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces are returning to the battle against the Islamic State following a pause to deal with clashes between their northern troops and Turkey, which included cross-border shelling by Turkish forces.

The SDF announced Sunday that its troops will resume offensive operations.

The return to fighting ISIS comes after “intensive diplomatic efforts” by the Operation Inherent Resolve coalition to defuse what the SDF said was a crisis on their borders, according to their press statement, which was shared on social media by the coalition.

During the pause, the SDF acknowledged that ISIS executed several successful counterattacks using vehicle-borne suicide bombs and ground troops.

“SDF general command saw the need to continue its operations and fulfill the final defeat of ISIS,” the press statement reads.

While offensive ground operations were temporarily paused on Nov. 1, airstrikes by the global coalition continued…

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