US-backed fighters begin final offensive against IS

BAGHOUZ, Syria - The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, started an attack to capture the Islamic State group's last remaining shred of territory in eastern Syria on Sunday and were exchanging fire with the extremists, an SDF official said.

"The military operations have started. Our forces are now clashing with the terrorists and the attack started," said Mustafa Bali, head of the SDF media office.

Aras Orkesh of the SDF said a day earlier that the forces have about 2,500 fighters ready for the battle in and around the eastern village of Baghouz, where IS fighters still have a presence.