U.S. pledges nearly $100 million to support Syrian opposition as anti-ISIS offensive begins
(Worthy News) – A newly formed U.S.-backed Syrian rebel alliance launched an offensive against the Islamic State in the northeast province of Hasakah on Saturday, a day after the United States said it would send Special Operations forces to advise insurgents fighting the jihadists.
It was the first declared operation by the Democratic Forces of Syria since the alliance of a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia and several Syrian Arab rebel groups announced its formation last month.
Fighting in Hasakah had begun after midnight, a spokesman for the alliance said. A group monitoring the war reported fighting and coalition airstrikes in the area. The campaign would “continue until all occupied areas in Hasakah are freed from Daesh,” a spokesman for the alliance’s general command said in the video, using an Arabic name for the Islamic State. He urged residents to stay away from militant-controlled areas of Hasakah. [ Source ]