Battle For The Last ISIS Stronghold In Syria -- News Updates March 18, 2019

Smoke rises from the last besieged neighborhood in the village of Baghouz, Deir Al Zor province, Syria March 17, 2019 (Reuters)

Daily Mail/Reuters/AFP: US-backed fighters seize positions inside ISIS's last Syrian stronghold after pounding the enclave with artillery and airstrikes overnight

* SDF troops say they have seized buildings inside ISIS's last stronghold, Baghouz
* Advance came early on Monday after a night of heavy shelling and airstrikes
* Kurdish forces are working to repel an ISIS counter-attack, commanders say
* Up to 5,000 people including jihadi fighters are thought to be inside the camp

American-backed fighters in Syria have seized buildings inside ISIS's last stronghold after a night of intense shelling and airstrikes.

Troops for the Syrian Democratic Forces captured a cluster of buildings inside Baghouz early on Monday and were facing off against an ISIS counter-attack.

'Several positions captured and an ammunition storage has been blown up,' SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali said on Twitter.

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Battle For The Last ISIS Stronghold In Syria -- News Updates March 18, 2019

U.S.-backed force says it has taken positions in Islamic State Syria camp -- Reuters
Syria force says 'thousands' still inside last IS pocket -- AFP
US-backed fighters move into last ISIS enclave in eastern Syria: report -- The Hill
US-led warplanes rain fire on jihadists as up to 5,000 fighters are still holed up in last Islamic State enclave in Syria -- Daily Mail
Syrian fighters say 'thousands' still inside last ISIL pocket -- Al Jazeera