International Coalition and SDF conduct exercises to enhance anti-ISIS activities

The International Coalition forces, with the participation of the Syrian Democratic Forces, conducted extensive military maneuvers and exercises in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor, near the border separating SDF control areas and the Syrian government’s control areas east of the Euphrates River.

F-16 warplanes and heavy artillery from the El Konico field participated in the exercises as well as Bradley vehicles and military vehicles carrying machine guns, by the SDF. In the exercises, the coalition forces used Milan and mortar shells, targeting empty areas of the Deir Ez-Zor countryside.

According to a source from the International Coalition, who declined to be named, the coalition forces will work, in coordination and broad participation with the SDF, to hold such exercises periodically in this area, which is a strategy for ISIS.

He attributed the reason for these exercises to the recent events that took place in Al-Sina’a Prison in Al-Hasakah and noted that the international coalition forces brought dozens of soldiers from their bases inside and outside Syria to this area, to protect the area from any possible attack and to confirm the partnership of the coalition forces with SDF in protecting the area.