SDF conducts joint military exercise with coalition forces in NE Syria
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS on Wednesday conducted joint military drills in northeast Syria close to the border with Turkey for the first time, local agencies and press departments of the military forces said.
Part of a joint campaign to defeat ISIS (Islamic State), the exercises were held in the border village of Taqil Baqil in Derik district near the tri-border between Syria, Iraq, and Turkey.
“The maneuvers used the live ammunition of heavy and medium weapons and training on reconnaissance and tracking down the sleeper cells preventing them from threatening the residents,” the SDF said in a statement.
The official Twitter account of US-led coalition also posted photos of the military games saying “Together, we remain committed to our Defeat-ISIS mission & to promoting peace & regional stability.”
Demonstrating we are #StrongerTogether!
— Inherent Resolve (@CJTFOIR) September 7, 2022
Recently, @Coalition & @cmoc_sdf conducted a Combined military exercise in Derik. Together, we remain committed to our Defeat-ISIS mission & to promoting peace & regional stability. #AdviseAssistEnable pic.twitter.com/MDDOegz2Tt
Meanwhile, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday confirmed in a statement that the US-led coalition was 'heavily involved' in supporting the SDF in a large-scale operation in Syria’s al-Hol camp.
“For the past two weeks, Syrian Democratic Forces have been conducting security operations in al-Hol displaced persons camp, resulting in the arrest of dozens of ISIS operatives and the dissolution of a major ISIS facilitation network both within the camp and throughout Syria,” Colonel Joe Buccino, CENTCOM communications director, said in the statement.
