The sports category has moved to a new website.
ADVERTISEMENT

Army reaches edge of IS-held town - Monitor

Syria's army advanced on Friday to the outskirts of a key Islamic State group bastion that is also being targeted by Turkey's army and allied forces, a monitor said.

Turkey-backed-opposition fighters regroup as they advance on the western outskirts of the northern Syrian city of al-Bab in a bid to enter the city and retake control of it from the Islamic State (IS) group on February 9, 2017

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said regime soldiers and allied fighters were now 1.5 kilometres (one mile) from Al-Bab in northern Syria.

The Observatory said the forces had made "important progress" and taken a village near the town, the jihadist group's last major stronghold in the northern province of Aleppo.

Al-Bab is being targeted by both regime forces and an alliance of Turkish troops backed by Syrian rebel forces.

The town has been besieged since Monday, when government forces advancing from the south cut off a road leading into Al-Bab.

ADVERTISEMENT

Turkish troops and allied forces have been advancing towards the town from the north, east and west.

On Thursday, five Turkish soldiers were killed in the battle for the town, bringing the army's toll to 10 over two days, according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency.

Turkey on August 24 began an unprecedented campaign inside Syria against IS and Kurdish militia which initially made rapid progress but has become mired in a deadly fight for Al-Bab since December.

According to Dogan news agency, 66 Turkish soldiers have now been killed in the Syria operation since it began in August, mostly in attacks by IS.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu suggested that once Al-Bab was captured Turkey and its allies could send special forces to take Raqa, the jihadists' de facto capital to the southwest.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: news@pulselive.co.ke

Recommended articles

Marianne Kitany tactfully speaks on whether Ruto should fire her ex, CS Linturi

Marianne Kitany tactfully speaks on whether Ruto should fire her ex, CS Linturi

Gov't & opposition officials clash at Rita Tinina's burial ceremony

Gov't & opposition officials clash at Rita Tinina's burial ceremony

CS Murkomen unveils new number plates for cars that will get preferential treatment

CS Murkomen unveils new number plates for cars that will get preferential treatment

Moi University students escape through windows after road crash

Moi University students escape through windows after road crash

57,000 civil servants to have their rent reviewed upwards

57,000 civil servants to have their rent reviewed upwards

Interesting story of U.S. Army Specialist Wambui who comes from a military family

Interesting story of U.S. Army Specialist Wambui who comes from a military family

Heroic GSU officer dies after jumping out of a taxi along Thika Super Highway

Heroic GSU officer dies after jumping out of a taxi along Thika Super Highway

DJ Joe Mfalme detained for 14 more days

DJ Joe Mfalme detained for 14 more days

Explosive blows up hotel next to police station, deaths reported

Explosive blows up hotel next to police station, deaths reported

ADVERTISEMENT