Alalam - Iraq

“The Syrian Democratic Forces hit ISIS' strongholds in the villages of Abu Jiyoub, Tarqa Gharbi and Jaabar, killing a number of ISIS militants and destroying several vehicles,” a SDF spokesman said.

At least 16 ISIS militants were killed and seven ISIS vehicles were destroyed in the attack.

“After the operation, clashes erupted and continued for nearly one hour on Friday evening, and resulted in the withdrawal of ISIS from the three villages (Abu Jiyoub, Tarqa Gharbi and Jaabar),” the SDF official said.

Earlier this month, the SDF took control over the villages of al-Mashout, al-Khafijeh, al-Sayer, Doha and Abu Ardani, killing a number of militants in the second phase of the Euphrates Rage Operation.

The engineering units started to defused bombs and landmines planted by the terrorists in the regain as soon as winning back the villages.

Also the SDF engaged in heavy fighting with ISIS terrorists and pushed them back from the villages of Ajaj 54km to the Northwest of Raqqa city and Safakhiz 31km to the East of Tishrin Dam on Thursday, killing or wounding several terrorists and capturing a militant.

In the meantime, other units of the SDF managed to advance 17km towards Raqqa city from al-Qaderiyeh flank and after killing at least four ISIS terrorists they took control of the villages of Shalaliyeh and Majban 53km to the West of Raqqa city, FNA reported.

SA