MESOP TODAYS REPORTS : Dozens Killed in Intense Fighting Near Manbij

 

A particularly violent day left left dozens dead in ongoing fighting in the Manbij pocket, in Syria. This Islamic State has counterattacked this week against the offensive by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces coalition and retaken several towns. Since capturing the village of Buyir yesterday, the terror group has executed 24 civilians. Last night, U.S. airstrikes targeting the Islamic State-occupied town of Al-Ghandour killed 41 people, at least 28 of whom were civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. While the fighting has been inconclusive so far, U.S. officials say Syrian forces have captured new Islamic State documents and digital records that could be useful in understanding the organization’s structure and operations