US-backed force says resuming anti-IS assault in eastern Syria

Qamishli (Syria) - A Kurdish-led force backed by a US-led anti-jihadist coalition said yesterday that it was resuming its offensive against the Islamic State group in eastern Syria.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an Arab-Kurdish alliance, had announced it was suspending its operation on October 31 after Turkey shelled Kurdish militia posts in northern Syria.

The SDF said the resumption followed "intensive contacts" with the international coalition and "strong diplomatic activity" to defuse the crisis.

"The leadership of the Syrian Democratic Forces has decided to resume military operations against the Islamic State group, and work towards its definitive defeat," the force said in an online statement.

"While it remains determined to chase down terrorism, (the SDF) also confirms its determination to protect the northern border of Syria," it added.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said the operation had not yet restarted, although SDF reinforcements had been sent to the area.

However it said the international coalition had continued to conduct air raids on the area, killing dozens of jihadists as well as civilians.

The Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of contacts across Syria, has reported near-daily Turkish shelling in Kurdish areas since late October, which killed five Kurdish fighters.

But on yesterday it said coalition officials had assured Kurdish forces that Turkey would cease its shelling, adding that there had been no bombardment there since Friday.

Ankara views the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which forms the backbone of the SDF, as a "terrorist" group linked to Kurdish rebels who have waged a decades-long insurgency inside Turkey.

The Turkish government has long opposed the establishment of a de facto autonomous Kurdish area in northeastern Syria, fearing it could embolden separatists at home.

But its NATO ally Washington has backed the Kurdish fighters in the battle against IS.

After the SDF announced it was halting its operation, Washington said it was in communication with both sides to push for de-escalation.

In an attempt to defuse tensions, Turkish and American troops launched joint patrols in the northern Syrian city of Manbij earlier this month.

They also carried out patrols in Kurdish territories shelled by Turkey.

Backed by the international coalition, the SDF launched its assault on the IS enclave around the Euphrates valley town of Hajin on September 10.

After making progress against the jihadists, it suffered a major setback last month when IS fighters launched a series of deadly counter-attacks using the cover of sand storms.