ISIS is reported to have crossed the Euphrates and attacked the SAA (Syrian Army). Reports say the SAA repelled the attack and are forcing ISIS back toward the Euphrates.
Posted on 06/04/2018 9:09:41 AM PDT by Texas Fossil
Syrian Democratic Forces initiated ground operations for phase two of Operation Roundup to defeat Daesh remnants in northeastern Syria today, the US-led coalition said on Sunday.
The coalition said the SDF operation is also helped by Iraqi air and artillery strikes.
“The SDF ground offensive, aimed at clearing Dashisha, is bolstered by coordinated Coalition cross-border air and artillery strikes, and our Iraqi partners' strikes by the Iraqi Air Force and Iraqi Army artillery positioned near the border.”
“Iraqi Security Forces have also enhanced their border presence to prevent the escape of Daesh members from Syria into Iraq,” the statement added.
Operation Roundup also known as Operation Al Jazeera Storm began May 1, and the successful first phase ended with the clearance of Baghuz, Syria May 15.
“This is a well-coordinated, powerful offensive to annihilate Daesh remnants in northeastern Syria,” said Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, commander of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. “Our partners are aggressively taking the fight to what’s left of Daesh’s conventional force, which has been demoralized by military losses and its leadership’s abandonment of the terrorists they left on the front lines.”
(Excerpt) Read more at theregion.org ...
ISIS is reported to have crossed the Euphrates and attacked the SAA (Syrian Army). Reports say the SAA repelled the attack and are forcing ISIS back toward the Euphrates.
It started out as the “Syrian Defense Force”and then about the time the Siege of Raqqa began they changed “Defense” into “Democratic”.
ISIS is cleared away from the rivers and larger towns, and are roughly surrounded in the open desert terrain - ideal for air strikes and artillery attack.
Iraqi forces are reinforcing the border, as the anvil of the hammer and anvil.
“Coalition strikes supporting Roundup in May exceeded April’s strike total by 123%, and March’s strike total by 304%. Ongoing strikes are targeting Daesh command and control centers, weapons production and storage facilities, safe houses and facilitation sites. “We and our Iraqi partners are also targeting a lot of tunnel complexes and underground storage sites, where Daesh are hiding,” said Funk.”
Thanks for the amplification.
The map was not connected with the article but I thought it helped too.
That's because the 'coalition' has been sitting on its hands for months.
Try comparing 2018 strike numbers to 2017 and you'll see what I'm talking about.
2017 was a target rich environment. ISIS was continuously engaged, revealing their locations for bombing.
When ISIS broke off from engagement, abandoned the cities and went to ground, there was naturally a big drop off in targeting intel.
I don’t think it was any loss of will, just an new phase in operations. The ground forces that develop the bulk of tactical targeting intel (SDF), had to reset after the previous big operation to take Raqqa, and the Turkish invasion of Afrin distracted from ISIS for a few months.
Looks like our SDF allies on the ground are now once again aggressively flushing ISIS out of their holes for targeting.
SDF did a great job in the long grind of urban battles, but they have historically been at their best against ISIS in this more open style of warfare. This is right in their wheelhouse. The numbers now are much more in our favor, and ISIS has no open path for retreat, reinforcement or resupply.
Endgame for the Caliphate.
The map is great.
It really highlights that the remnants of ISIS are surrounded by their most deadly enemies, the Kurds in the West, and the Iraqi Army and PMU in the East.
No openings left to Turkey or Saudi Arabia. No more ability to move along the “ratline” of the river valley with its denser vegetation and population. They are out in the open terrain, where it will be like shooting fish in a barrel, if they sally forth and try to maneuver in any formation bigger than a single Toyota.
I saw comments that indicated the SDF was pushing hoping to catch Al-Baghdadi. Of course he might have jumped the Euphrates and be involved with fighting the SAA & Iranians.
He will be less likely to escape with the Kurd than with the SAA.
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