Hajin witnesses strongest clashes , SDF advanced carefully

NEWS DESK

Hajin is the last stronghold of IS mercenaries east of the Euphrates, after the fall of the capital of the Islamic caliphate al-Raqqa, which was liberated by the Syrian Democratic Forces almost a year ago. Hajin is located in the far west of the Syrian-Iraqi border, al-Sewsa in the east and al-Shafa in the middle they are related to al-Bu Kamal city of Deir ez-Zor, and adjacent to the Euphrates River, which is the dividing line between the east and south Euphrates, and the region is known for its population density, despite the narrowness of its area.

The areas where clashes are taking place between SDF fighters and IS mercenaries are al-Sewsa, al-Shafa and Hajin, distributed on several other axes, the fighters have distributed their points by their side. They are still occupied by IS mercenaries. In the north and east of Syria as these areas are witnessing the most violent clashes that mercenaries have been fortified in the area for four years.

Clean up the eastern bank of the Euphrates River completely and head towards Hajin town

During al-Jazeera Tempest campaign, which began on September 9 last year, the Syrian Democratic Forces managed to liberate dozens of villages and hamlets on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River and to clean up the Syrian-Iraqi border from IS mercenaries. The fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces went to Hajin town, the last stronghold in northern and eastern Syria, and the last stage of al-Jazeera Tempest campaign, which is called the "battle to defeat terrorism."

SDF is advancing in the last stronghold of IS mercenaries, amidst strong clashes

IS mercenaries is trying to block the progress of SDF in the region, especially Hajin town which is close to the fighters, by attacking SDF's points of concentration with cannons, in addition to vehicles, cars and motorcycles, and mercenaries have recently exploited the sandstorm that hit the region to attack, but SDF fighters responded to all those attacks on all axes, and killed during the clashes in the region dozens of mercenary elements.

Al-Bagouz axis as Hajin, there are violent clashes between SDF and IS on a daily basis, where mercenaries carry out suicide attacks with car bombs and explosive belts. The mercenaries were unable, despite all attempts to advance towards the points of SDF which killed dozens of IS mercenaries elements.

Large fortification in Hajin town by IS mercenaries

As the towns bordering the eastern bank of the Euphrates River are the last stronghold of mercenaries and the first towns they control, and they know that the last battles will take place there, the mercenaries fortify their strongholds well by digging the tunnels, which are tens of kilometers long to move between the towns they control. In their tunnels, their weapons and vehicles, protect themselves from strikes of international coalition aircraft, and ignite tires to jam the aircraft.

Using  civilians as human shields has made the fighters progress cautiously

Mercenaries who exploited civilians in other areas are now used again in Hajin town the use civilians as human shields. They also kill civilians trying to get out of the town and go to the safe areas liberated by SDF, however, SDF and before the start of the battles had formed  "The Special Units for the Liberation of Civilians " to open safe corridors for civilians in areas of engagement and to deliver them to  safe areas liberated by SDF.

For the sake of the safety of civilians, the fighters are advancing carefully, because, as campaign leaders say, keeping civilians is a priority in the campaign.

Engineering teams intensify work and clean the area of ​​mines

In addition to the Syrian Democratic Forces, the special engineering teams work to dismantle the mines planted by mercenaries, in order to block the progress of SDF. Since the start of the campaign to defeat terrorism, the teams have dismantled hundreds of mines planted in the main roads and sub-roads and even in the civilian houses.

Who is fighting in Hajin town?

The leaders of the first ranks of mercenaries who came from Western, European and Arab countries which Turkey facilitated the borders for them to cross into Syria, all gathered in Hajin, al-Shafa and al-Sewsa after they were defeated from all the areas they occupied in the Syrian north liberated by SDF, those who remain in the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, most of them foreign nationalities, participated in many battles, have a strategy in the fighting, who are planning attacks on SDF points of concentration.

What are the reasons for the campaign's caution?

SDF's Relation Office official , Redur Khalil noted that the campaign against IS in Deir ez-Zor will take longer than expected. The reasons for the campaign's alert are several reasons: the sandstorm since October 13 in the Deir ez-Zor which has been used by the mercenaries, and the  mercenaries dug many tunnels and fortified the areas they occupy. The mercenaries fight the Syrian Democratic Forces with mines as a weapon.

Where they mined every place until they were forced to mine the animals. The mercenaries also used heavy weapons, the quality of which was not yet known against the Syrian Democratic Forces fighters, financed by some regional countries. The mercenaries also emptied al-Sousse town from their own people and brought them to al-Shafa and Hajin to use them as human shields against SDF fighters .

A.H

ANHA