Daesh withdraws from two areas in northern Syria

By Mohamed Misto

AL-HASAKAH, Syria

The Daesh terrorist group on Thursday withdrew from two areas in northern Syria, according to local sources.

Daesh terrorists pulled out of the southern city of al-Shadadi in al-Hasakah province after fierce clashes with the PYD terror group, local sources told Anadolu Agency.

PYD is the Syrian affiliate of the terrorist PKK organization.

According to the sources, thousands of residents have fled the town to the neighboring city of Deir al-Zour. “[Civilians] fear retaliation by PYD,” the sources said.

The southern town had fallen to PYD forces on Friday following airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition. Daesh, however, launched a counter attack on Sunday, which forced PYD out to the city’s outskirts.

Scores of PYD terrorists were reportedly killed or captured in the Daesh attack.

Meanwhile, regime forces regained control of Khanasir in the northern province of Aleppo after Daesh withdrew from the village, Syrian opposition sources said.

According to the sources, Daesh terrorists still block the main supply route used by Assad forces to central Syria, prompting the regime to call in new reinforcements in an attempt to open it.

Also in Aleppo, three students were killed and scores were injured Thursday when Russian warplanes targeted a school in the opposition-controlled town of Kaptan al-Jabal, Syrian Civil Defense sources told Anadolu Agency.

Local activists said the Russian planes used cluster bombs to target residential areas in the towns of Haritan, Anadan and Maree, in addition to the villages of Kafr Bisin and Babnes.

Syria has remained locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.

Since then, more than 250,000 people have been killed and more than 10 million displaced, according to figures released by the UN.