SDF: Civilians evacuated from Daesh pocket in Syria

A convoy of dozens of trucks carrying evacuated civilians has left the last Islamic State pocket in eastern Syria at Baghouz

Wednesday, 20th February 2019

Civilians who have fled fighting in Bagouz wait to board trucks after being screened by members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) at a makeshift screening point in the desert on Saturday in Bagouz, Syria. After weeks of fighting the SDF announced the start of a final operation to oust ISIS from the last village held by the extremist group

A convoy of dozens of trucks carrying evacuated civilians has left the last Islamic State pocket in eastern Syria at Baghouz, the spokesman for the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Wednesday.

The SDF has said isolating the civilians in the enclave at Baghouz from the remaining jihadists there is a crucial step towards the final capture of the area.

Reporters near the front line saw the trucks leaving the enclave.

The United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet had said earlier Tuesday that some 200 families remained trapped in the enclave and called for their safe passage out.