Kurdish-led forces in Syria announced a new offensive against ISIS on Thursday, days after the terror group launched a deadly attack on a northern prison.
Six Kurdish fighters were killed on Monday when ISIS attacked the holding complex in Raqqa, the group's former de facto capital in Syria, in a bid to free fellow militants.
The Syrian Democratic Forces said the offensive — Operation Al Jazeera Thunderbolt — aimed to “eliminate” ISIS from areas that had been “the source of the recent terrorist attacks”.
The SDF said the operation was being carried out alongside the US-backed anti-ISIS coalition, although there was no immediate confirmation from the international force that it was taking part.
The statement said that, in addition to the thwarted Raqqa attack, ISIS fighters had recently carried out eight assaults in the northern Syrian areas of Deir Ezzor, Hasakah and Al Hol camp for displaced people, which houses militants' family members.
Referencing recent Turkish air strikes on Kurdish forces in north-east Syria, the SDF said ISIS was trying to “take advantage” of the situation by “carrying out more terrorist attacks”.
After conquering large parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014, ISIS saw its so-called caliphate collapse three years later, but it continues to launch attacks through sleeper cells in both countries.
The SDF has spearheaded the fight against ISIS in Syria and drove the group from its last stronghold in the country in 2019.
US Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, said on Thursday that it has carried out 108 “partnered” operations against ISIS in Syria during 2022, along with 14 unilateral operations, leading to the arrest of 215 militants and the deaths of 466 others.
Agencies contributed to this report
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
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Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
