In a race to capture most important border crossing in Syria, American-backed forces begin their advance on Abu Kamal
The next target of the United States-led coalition in Syria will be Abu Kamal (province of Deir ez-Zor).
This is where the stronghold of the Islamic State is now located, stated the spokesperson for the operation Inherent Resolve, Colonel Ryan Dillon.
"We have to consolidate the gains that the Syrian Democratic Forces have made down to the Omar oil fields [in Deir ez-Zor] and continue to back clear areas that are still ISIS held territory… and then prepare for an offensive in Abu Kamal, where we believe the bulk of the ISIS leadership remains right now," Dillon said.
Earlier, on 20 October, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) supported by the US-led Coalition freed the Syrian city of Raqqa, which had long been considered the ISIS capital. The end of the operation in Raqqa reportedly allowed the Syrian Democratic Forces to free up resources for operation in Der ez-Zor.
On October 22, the SDF, supported by the US, captured from ISIS the al-Omar oil field, the largest oil deposit in Syria.
According to the reports, the SDF have already begun to advance on Abu Kamal, the border crossing on the Iraqi border.
Amid the renewed offensive of ISIS on the Syrian government forces near the city of Mayadin (province of Deir ez-Zor) it is unlikely that the Syrian army will have sufficient resources to challenge American backed forces for control of Abu Kamal.