Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia are fighting Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's followers and family members in Hajin, an eastern Syrian town about 50 km west of the Iraqi border, a Sun correspondent embedded with the militia has reported.
"In other battles, the jihadists had other places to run to, but in Hajin they have nowhere to go," SDF commander Havel Ronnie Walat told the outlet. "Here it is only the true believers left and they will fight to the death," he said.
Earlier, Moscow accused the US-led coalition of resuming airstrikes in the area using white phosphorus bombs, and said the attacks were causing casualties among civilians trapped in the area. On Wednesday, Syrian media reported that the coalition used cluster bombs in Hajin and the nearby town of al-Sha'afa, leading to multiple civilian deaths. The coalition has repeatedly denied using cluster and white phosphorus munitions in populated areas in eastern Syria.
Commenting on rumors that al-Baghdadi may be hiding out in the Hajin, Walat revealed that the terrorist head honcho's brother "was in the area recently (and) he was holding a meeting encouraging people to fight. Also, about a month and a half ago, we got intelligence that we killed (one of) Baghdadi's sons," the commander said.
"[Daesh] have had over five years to prepare," Walat said. "It's very slow work [and] we are having to take [territory] house by house, metre by metre."
"We will begin the offensive against Hajin soon…but I don't think this battle will be done quickly. This is not a war that can be won quickly," Walat emphasized.
*A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries.
