U.S. to launch military operation to retake Islamic State’s last bastion in Syria: Spokesperson

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The U.S. State Department has announced starting a military operation to recapture the last bastion held by Islamic State in Syria.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Heather Nauert, the spokesperson of the department, said, “The United States, the Global Coalition, and local partners, including the Syrian Democratic Forces, are launching operations to liberate the final ISIS strongholds in Syria.”

Nauert also added, “We will work with our NATO ally Turkey and our partners Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon to secure their borders from ISIS. We will seek further fair share contributions in forces, material, and resources from regional partners and allies to stabilize liberated territories.”

Earlier today, the Syrian Democratic Forces said troops, backed by the U.S.-led Coalition started the final phase of the operation and will liberate regions, located east of Euphrates, and secure the Iraqi-Syrian borders.

This came after Qutri al-Ebeidi, a senior leader with al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) in Anbar, said the U.S.-led Coalition is getting ready to strike some regions in Syria from Ain al-Assad airbase, west of Anbar.

On Monday, the coalition announced the end of its combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and deactivation of its land forces command headquarters.

In April, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi denied intentions to intervene within Syrian affairs, saying airstrikes against Islamic State will continue.