Operation Against IS In Syria's Baghouz Village Nearing End - SDF

The remaining militants from the Islamic State terrorist group (banned in Russia) are entrenched in a small area of Baghouz, the last IS-held village in Syria, head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces' (SDF) Media Center Mustafa Bali told Sputnik on Saturday

CAIRO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th February, 2019) The remaining militants from the Islamic State terrorist group (banned in Russia) are entrenched in a small area of Baghouz, the last IS-held village in Syria, head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces' (SDF) Media Center Mustafa Bali told Sputnik on Saturday.

A number of media outlets reported earlier in the day that the SDF had taken control of all of Baghouz.

"The Baghouz area has surrendered in military terms but the liberation [operation] is not over yet. Militants have entrenched themselves in the 700 meters [2,296 feet] long and [700 meters] wide territory, they continue using civilians as human shields. There are thousands of captives in that area," Bali said.

The spokesman also denied media reports claiming that the SDF was negotiating with the Islamic State.