Eastern Deir al-Zour liberated from IS: Kurdish group

DAMASCUS, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) announced Sunday the liberation of the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour province in eastern Syria from the Islamic State (IS).

In a statement, the YPG said its forces had liberated the area in east of the Euphrates River with the support of the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition and Russian forces.

The group expressed gratitude to the United States and Russia for their support to eliminate the presence of IS in the eastern rim of Deir al-Zour province.

It was the first time that the Kurdish group voiced gratitude to Russia for its support.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is led by the YPG, started its operations against IS in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour in September.

Meanwhile, the Syrian army advanced in the countryside of al-Bukamal city in the southeastern countryside of Deir al-Zour near the Iraqi border, as part of its operation to drive the IS militants out of Deir al-Zour province.

Deir al-Zour has been the economic capital for IS, and the Syrian army has stripped the terror group of key strongholds there, mainly the capital city of Deir al-Zour and the strategic cities of al-Mayadeen and al-Bukamal.

Both the Syrian forces and the SDF have been fighting IS separately in Deir al-Zour. The coordination appeared to be conducted by the United States, a major supporter of the Kurdish group, and Russia, the main ally of the Syrian government forces. Enditem