Iraqi forces free 11 SDF fighters from ISIS near Euphrates

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraqi border guards free nearly a dozen Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters from ISIS in western Anbar near the Iraq-Syria border.

Ahmed Nasrallah, the commander of the 13th Brigade of the Hashd al-Shaabi announced that upon the command of the Hashd al-Shaabi Operations Command, the Iraqi border guards freed 11 SDF fighters from ISIS on Monday.

“The ISIS militants were targeted by the jets and artillery,” Nasrallah explained. “A number of military outposts still under ISIS control come under mortar shellings by the Hashd al-Shaabi and border guard forces.”

A Sunni Hashd al-Ashayari official told Rudaw that after ISIS attacked their military outposts, 11 SDF fighters fled to the locations of the Iraqi forces in Dermrasla north of the Euphrates river in Anbar province.

“The [fighters] are protected by Iraqi joint forces,” he added.

The SDF did not immediately confirm or deny the report.

The SDF is the US-led anti-ISIS coalition partnered ground force. They have been actively clearing ISIS holdouts in the Middle Euphrates River Valley.

The coalition has announced that there is coordination between SDF and Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) in order to maintain border security.