The U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) began an assault against the final ISIS enclave in eastern Syria on Saturday, aiming to wipe out the last vestige of the jihadist group’s “caliphate” in the SDF’s area of operations.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who plans to pull U.S. forces out of Syria, said on Wednesday he expected an announcement as early as next week that the U.S.-led coalition operating in support of the SDF had reclaimed all the territory previously held by the jihadist group.

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The Houthi militias shelled a camp for displaced people in Haradh in Yemen’s Hajjah province on Saturday, killing eight people and wounding 30 others.

According to local sources, the camp for the Shalila and Bani Al-Haddad displaced people came under heaving shelling.

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The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured strategic upper al-Baghouz town from ISIS fighters, effectively isolating the Syrian-Iraqi border from the extremists.

The predominately-Kurdish SDF established “full control” over al-Baghouz Fowqani town. It was the last town ISIS held in Syria that touches the Iraqi border and is located on the eastern bank of the Euphrates across from al-Boukamal. The area is known as the “Hajin pocket.”

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With its troops and military infrastructure stationed just 50 kilometres from the Israeli border, Iran is threatening a military confrontation that could further destabilise the region, create a humanitarian catastrophe and send thousands more refugees fleeing for safety. Israel launched air strikes against Iranian military targets inside Syria on Sunday, killing four soldiers and injuring many more.

They came after the Israeli Iron Dome defence system intercepted missiles fired towards the disputed Golan Heights. “You should be afraid of the day that our precision-guided missiles roar and fall on your head,” Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Al Jafari had earlier warned Tel Aviv.

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“A short while ago, a rocket was fired at the northern Golan Heights and was intercepted by the ‘Iron Dome’ aerial defence system,” an Israeli military statement said.

A military spokeswoman told AFP the rocket was fired from Syria. No further details were immediately provided.

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