11 family members dead in rebel push
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

On IS Syria bastion

11 family members dead in rebel push

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice 11 family members dead in rebel push

Rebel fighters, part of the Turkey-backed Euphrates
Al-Bab - Arab Today

Eleven members of the same family were killed on Monday as Turkey-backed Syrian rebels advanced on the town of Al-Bab held by Islamic State jihadists, a monitoring group said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said four couples and three children were killed in their homes in the centre of town as it came under heavy bombardment and Turkish air strikes aimed at clearing the way for a rebel advance.

The rebels gained ground, dodging snipers and deadly roadside bombs planted across the jihadist bastion.

With help from Turkish soldiers, artillery fire and air strikes, the "Euphrates Shield" rebel alliance launched a major push into the northern town.

"Euphrates Shield fighters gathered last night and divided up the town into three axes to facilitate the storming of Al-Bab," said local field commander Abu Jaafar, speaking to AFP inside the town.

The rebels began their offensive at midnight, seizing control of a hospital building, a key roundabout and a school complex in the town's western half, Abu Jaafar said.

Some rebels could be seen taking a short break on the western edges of the city after having spent around 12 hours in fierce street fighting.

"We've faced some difficulty with Daesh snipers -- there were more than 10 snipers last night that surprised our troops," Abu Jaafar said, using the Arabic acronym for IS.

"More than 10 of our forces were killed (Monday), and dozens wounded, because of the mines planted by this treacherous organisation," he added.

He said roadside bombs that could be detonated remotely had been particularly deadly.

Al-Bab is IS's final stronghold in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo -- second only in importance to the jihadist group's de facto capital in neighbouring Raqa.

Turkey began military operations in Syria in August, crossing south into the war-ravaged country to fight both IS and Kurdish forces that it regards as terrorists.

Euphrates Shield forces initially swept across swathes of border territory easily, but they stalled around Al-Bab in December.

According to the Syrian Observatory, the rebel advance into Al-Bab on Monday was relatively modest -- 200 metres (yards) into the town's west.

"There is fierce bombardment from Turkish forces on IS positions in Al-Bab," the Britain-based monitor said.

It has said that more than 110 civilians have been killed in just two weeks of Turkish shelling on the town, but Ankara has said it does its best to avoid civilian casualties.

Dozens of civilians have been fleeing Al-Bab every day, according to the monitor, leaving newly liberated areas as well as escaping territory still under IS control.

On Monday, Abu Jaafar told AFP that at least 10 families had been evacuated out of battleground districts in Al-Bab.

One fleeing resident, Jaafar Ahmad, spoke with a quaking voice as he recounted what he had seen.

"I saw destruction -- the artillery and the airplanes shelling. There's destruction everywhere," Ahmad said. "We got out safe and sound, thank God, and the town is now encircled."

Source: AFP

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

11 family members dead in rebel push 11 family members dead in rebel push

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

11 family members dead in rebel push 11 family members dead in rebel push

 



GMT 09:54 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

'Friendly and kind' N. Korean skaters

GMT 07:16 2018 Thursday ,18 January

Macron's tapestry gesture risks rousing

GMT 23:45 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Europe in the pink of health, feels Bjorn

GMT 16:03 2017 Friday ,05 May

Ban on Omani foods

GMT 03:07 2017 Saturday ,30 September

Facebook helps UAE resident reunite with brother

GMT 00:05 2017 Wednesday ,15 November

Deadly heat from climate change may hit slums hardest

GMT 10:18 2016 Thursday ,27 October

Sharjah Book Fair’s Professional Programme attracts

GMT 13:56 2012 Sunday ,21 October

King Mohammed VI Gulf tour

GMT 19:28 2017 Sunday ,12 March

Carlos the Jackal faces trial again in France

GMT 05:55 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

US tax reforms send UBS profits plunging

GMT 06:01 2018 Saturday ,20 January

How to take a bullet, by 'Den of Thieves' star 50 Cent

GMT 23:50 2018 Thursday ,18 January

1.5 C climate goal 'very unlikely' but doable

GMT 08:42 2018 Wednesday ,17 January

Was preparing new version of 'Zombie'

GMT 13:06 2018 Tuesday ,16 January

The London Fashion Agency relaunches as LFA

GMT 14:17 2017 Friday ,03 February

Facing Trump trade threats, Mexico eyes new partners

GMT 10:33 2017 Thursday ,28 December

Putin files nomination for 2018 re-election bid

GMT 08:01 2017 Tuesday ,21 November

China's Tencent overtakes Facebook

GMT 10:15 2017 Tuesday ,21 November

US-Saudi warplanes hit Sanaa

GMT 07:42 2010 Wednesday ,15 September

Global regulators agree on tougher Basel III bank rules
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
 
 Emirates Voice Facebook,emirates voice facebook  Emirates Voice Twitter,emirates voice twitter Emirates Voice Rss,emirates voice rss  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

emiratesvoieen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen
emiratesvoice emiratesvoice emiratesvoice
emiratesvoice
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice