US Forces Retreat from Base in Eastern Syria After ISIL Attack
The US Army pulled its forces back from their base in Eastern Deir Ezzur in a sudden move on Sunday and after ISIL stormed the Washington-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the US army aircraft did not provide them with aerial backup yesterday.
The army soldiers retreated from their base near the town of Hajin in Eastern Deir Ezzur and pulled their heavy weapons back.
The army’s move came after ISIL launched a heavy attack on the SDF and captured al-Sousah and al-Baqouz, local activists said, adding that the US army has retreated to al-Tunk oilfield.
Meanwhile, al-Mayadeen TV Channel reported that ISIL has captured almost 100 SDF militias.
It further said that the Iraqi popular forces of Hashd al-Shaabi has reinvigorated its military presence at the border with Syria after ISIL captured more regions in Eastern Syria.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported earlier today that the SDF are showing extreme anger at the US military after they were left alone under a heavy ISIL offensive in Deir Ezzur.
SOHR reported that the SDF have started protests at the US military after the US air force gave no support for the Kurdish militias to counter the ISIL’s heavy offensive in Eastern Deir Ezzur that inflicted a large number of casualties on the SDF.
The ISIL launched a heavy attack on the SDF in al-Souseh, al-Baqouz and Hajin on the Eastern banks of the Euphrates River on Saturday.
SOHR further added that a sum of 68 SDF gunmen, including a commander, that had been dispatched from Tabaqa in Western Raqqa to Deir Ezzur were killed and more than 100 others were injured in the ISIL attack.
It went on to say that the ISIL has captured al-Sousah and al-Baqouz in the attack, and seized tens of military and armored vehicles and a large volume of arms and ammunition.