From the Liveblog of
Sunday, December 3, 2017
US-backed Syria Kurdish force says east of Euphrates free of IS
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSyria’s main Kurdish forces say it has successfully cleared areas east of the Euphrates river of Islamic State militants.
Noureddine Mahmoud, spokesman for the People’s Defense Units, known as the YPG, and the backbone of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, praises at a press conference Sunday US and Russian support for forces operating in the eastern Deir el-Zour province.
He says he hoped for more coordination with the two international powers to protect liberated areas. Mahmoud’s comments come a day after the US defense secretary said Washington will stop arming the YPG.
Russia is the main backer of Syrian government forces battling IS on the western side of the river. Russia and the US have been in contact to prevent clashes between them.
— AP
The Times of Israel Community.