WASHINGTON –
The Syrian town of Shadadi is expected to be liberated soon from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, a Pentagon spokesman said.
Syrian Democratic Forces have encircled and isolated the town in northeastern Syria, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters today.
"We continue to see very solid progress in Shadadi," he said.
Davis said the United States is enabling friendly forces in northeastern Syria as a "central element to dealing a lasting defeat against ISIL."
The friendly forces have launched sustained offensive operations against ISIL with U.S. support and taken back ground, Davis said. Many ISIL fighters are fleeing, he said.
There is still work to be done, the captain said. ISIL is expected to put up a fight, but Shadadi is expected to be liberated in the "very near future," he said.
"With our continued support, we believe these forces will eventually be able to isolate ISIL's stronghold of Raqqa, not long after that," Davis said.
(Follow Lisa Ferdinando on Twitter @FerdinandoDoD)