Evacuations from Baghouz continue amid fierce clashes

SDF fighters are on one hand evacuating the surrendering ISIS members and their families, as they are on the other hand engaged in fierce clashes with the remaining ISIS elements in Baghouz.

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continue their operation against Baghouz village in Hajin town of Deir ez-Zor province.

The final phase of the campaign launched by the SDF on March 1, continues on three axes. SDF fighters have suspended the operation on the eastern axis for the evacuation of the ISIS members and their families that have accepted to surrender. During the past two days, thousands of ISIS mercenaries and families have surrendered and they have been evacuated from the village.

Those mercenaries refusing to surrender are trying to impede the advance of SDF fighters by means of suicide attacks, heat seeking missiles and car bomb attacks.

Heavy clashes are taking place between SDF fighters and ISIS mercenaries on the northern and southeastern axes of the operation.

ANF cameras captured the fighting on the northern axis of the operation.

On February 9, SDF launched operations to evacuate the ISIS members and families that accepted to surrender from Baghouz village. During the evacuation efforts that continued until March 1st, more than 10 thousand people have been transferred to safe areas.

As a result of evacuation efforts for 20 days, some two thousand ISIS mercenaries and families, mainly foreign nationals, refused to surrender, upon which SDF forces launched an operation against the remaining ISIS members in Baghouz on March 1st.