ARA News
ALEPPO – Warplanes from the US-led coalition repeatedly struck the town of Dabiq on Monday, in Syria’s northern Aleppo Governorate. The town is currently controlled by Islamic State (ISIS) militants.
The coalition targeted an ISIS training camp and a security centre in Dabiq, killing and wounding over 20 militants.
Another airstrike hit a residential neighbourhood in the town. “At least eight civilians were killed and ten others wounded in the air raid,” rights activist Habib Saleh told ARA News.
Dabiq is mentioned in an Islamic Hadith about the end of the world. Consequently, the Islamic State’s online magazine is named after the town.
ISIS believes that Dabiq is where Muslim and infidel forces will eventually face each other. According to the Hadith, “after the infidel forces’ defeat, the apocalypse will begin.”
Also on Monday, Turkey-backed rebels captured new areas in Aleppo’s northern countryside.
“Backed by air cover from the coalition, rebel fighters of the Euphrates Shield expelled ISIS from the eastern suburb of Maree town,” rebel spokesman Salih al-Zein told ARA News.
“The rebels […] captured Akhtarin village after heavy clashes with ISIS,” al-Zein said. The spokesman told ARA News that four ISIS militants were killed and several others were wounded.
US Supports Battle for Dabiq
The US-led coalition is supporting an offensive by Turkey-backed rebels with the aim of seizing the town of Dabiq. Dabiq is heavily defended by the ISIS, owing to its importance in Muslim eschatology.
Coalition envoy Brett McGurk said on Sunday: “The coalition is actively supporting [Turkey-backed] Syrian opposition forces as they advance to within a few kilometers of [ISIS’] weakening stronghold Dabiq.”
On August 24, Turkey launched the Euphrates Shield Operation with the goal of preventing the Syrian Kurds from uniting their canton administrations.
This led to clashes between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkey-backed rebels.
At the same time, both the SDF and Turkey-backed rebels are advancing in the direction of al-Bab City, another ISIS stronghold.
Reporting by: Muhammad Sulaiman | Source: ARA News
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