Dozens of US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) troops, primarily Kurdish fighters, were killed in a Daesh terror group attack in Syria's Dayr al-Zawr province, near the Iraqi border.
According to the Iranian Press TV website, Daesh militants conducted a surprise attack, killing at least 60 and wounding at least 100 SDF fighters.
In a statement published in the Telegram messenger app, Daesh took responsibility for an attack on the village of al-Sousa and a car bomb detonation near the village of al-Bagouz (al-Baghuz Fawqani).
"The fighters were advancing during a sandstorm, they were surrounded, Daesh members used explosives and opened fire," the SOHR said.
According to the Syria.liveuamap.com website, Daesh controls a small enclave on the eastern bank of the Euphrates river, stretching from the town of Hajin on the north, to al-Sousa on the south.
Jordanian TV channel Al Hadath reported that while SDF liberated Hajin — the largest entity in the enclave, its main target — a second front was opened in September at al-Sousa, to increase pressure on the terrorists.
Syrian Democratic Forces are mainly active on the eastern side of the Euphrates River, fighting the remnants of Daesh, which has reportedly been driven from all urban strongholds both in Iraq and Syria. However, the Syrian government considers these SDF forces illegitimate militants acting without the consent of the central government.
