US Troops Battle ISIS Near Key Strategic Base in Syria
(ANTIWAR.COM) — US troops and fighters from the local Maghawir al-Thawra rebels ambushed an ISIS convoy in the northern portion of the westernmost Syrian safe zone, near the al-Tanf border crossing. Officials claim at least 21 ISIS fighters were killed and captured 17 others.
The rebels were operating out of the al-Tanf base, which also has a US presence, when they got reports of a convoy in the safe zone and intecepted it. It turns out the convoy included ISIS members, and they attacked, leading to a protracted firefight.
Despite it supposedly being a long fight, the US insisted that there were no casualties among their forces or their allies. This is the first reported fighting in the Tanf safe zone in several weeks.
Though fighting isn’t supposed to happen inside safe zones, ISIS isn’t a party to the ceasefire that allowed the zones’ creation, and in general factions have acted as though the safe zones don’t apply to them.
By Jason Ditz / Republished with permission / ANTIWAR.COM / Report a typo