Terrorist ISIL Surrenders Last Hasaka Stronghold to US-Backed Terrorists SDF without Battle

The Arabic-language Lebanon-based al-Akhbar paper wrote that ISIL withdrew from the town of Merkadah in Southern Hasaka and surrendered control to the SDF within the framework of an agreement that envisages delivering control of its regions to the SDF without any battle.

Merkadah is located along the al-Khabour River and was the last stronghold of ISIL in Hasaka. The town is on the administrative borderline between the provinces of Hasaka and Deir Ezzur.

After withdrawal from Merkadah, ISIL is only in control of desert-like regions in Hasaka and Deir Ezzur provinces along the border with Iraq.

The SDF has not thus far commented on ISIL’s withdrawal, but the Deir Ezzur Military Council announced that they are ready to face the Syrian Army troops and popular forces in the province.

Kurds have been trying to take control over Merkadah since long time ago.

Militant-affiliated websites reported on Wednesday that SDF was asking refugees in Hasaka province to pay $300 for each person if they intended to leave the camp for necessary purposes.

The websites reported that the SDF imposed an exit ban on refugees in the al-Saad camp in Southern Hasaka and was exercising jail drills and rules in there.

The websites quoted Kurdish sources as saying that the SDF receives $300 per person to allow the refugees to leave the camp.

The al-Saad camp was facing acute shortage of food and medial-health services.