ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Thursday said it successfully repelled an Islamic State (ISIS) attack in eastern Syria but lost five members in the clashes.
The SDF said in a statement that the attack took place eastern Deir ez-Zor early Thursday.
“Five of our comrades were martyred, and another fighter was wounded in violent clashes that took place during thwarting the attack,” the US-backed force added.
The attack comes amid a surge in ISIS attacks in the country, especially against the SDF in eastern Syria.
ISIS has carried out more than 153 attacks in the Kurdish region of northeast Syria (Rojava) since the collapse of dictator Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December, announced the SDF on Monday.
The extremist group, whose so-called caliphate was dismantled in Syria by the SDF in 2019 with the help of the US-led global coalition against ISIS, remains a threat and has exploited a security vacuum, especially in areas separating Rojava from Damascus-held territories, since the interim government came to power.
The SDF has carried out numerous operations this year to counter what they say is a resurgence in ISIS activity targeting both their forces and civilians. The SDF functions as the de facto military force in Rojava. It remains a key partner of the global coalition.
An estimated 2,000 ISIS militants remain active in Hasaka, an SDF spokesperson told Rudaw in July.