The latest wave of evacuations brings the final defeat of the Islamic State group by the Kurdish-led SDF a step closer — a milestone in the devastating four-year campaign to defeat the group’s so-called “caliphate” that once covered a vast territory straddling both Syria and Iraq.
Many among those leaving Wednesday appeared to be wives and children of IS militants.There were also 13 Yazidi children from Iraq among the evacuees, looking dusty, dirty and in a state of shock.
At least 75 men also came out, going straight to a screening area.
The SDF announced a military operation to liberate Baghouz in September, but has held off on a full blown assault after it became apparent that a huge number of civilians were still inside.
Over the last three weeks, more than 10,000 people have been evacuated, many of them exhausted and wounded.
IS militants — many of them foreigners, including Iraqis and Central Asians along with some Syrian fighters — are now fighting their final battle, holed up in tunnels and caves inside Baghouz.
An SDF commander said Wednesday when the last batch of civilians and evacuees leave, they will bomb the remaining hardcore militants who have vowed to die in Baghouz.
