MOSCOW, March 19. /TASS/. Kurdish militants have established control over an Islamic State (IS, outlawed in Russia) terrorist camp on the outskirts of Al-Baghuz on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River. Head of the media office of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mustafa Bali told the TV channel Al-Hadath about it on Tuesday.
"The camp is in the hands of our fighters; some terrorists surrendered to become prisoners, while the rest fled to hide for cover in underground bunkers," he said.
According to the SDF media office head, the operation to clear the last IS stronghold continues. The militants are controlling the strip between Al-Baghuz and the Euphrates River. "These are mercenaries that refuse to lay down arms and prefer dying in action," Bali said. "Their elimination will not take much time."
Earlier on Tuesday Kurdish units took 157 terrorists prisoner. In total, since January 9 - the start of the final stage of the operation against the IS groups in this area that borders Iraq - 306 terrorists have been destroyed, according to the SDF. About 5,000 militants and their families yielded themselves prisoner. The Kurds lost 82 fighters, and more than 60 were injured.