The Syrian Democratic Forces will officially announce the operation today (September 9), with the aim of pushing IS back from the north of Deir ez-Zor province, the source said.
They will begin a YPG-controlled attack from southern Hasaka, the SDF official told Reuters. This was part of a large-scale attack to push IS out of Raqqa city and the southeastern territory occupied by IS.
In the offensive towards Deir ez-Zor, SDF will advance towards the Euphrates River from the east of the province, which borders Iraq.
With the support of the US air force and special forces on the ground, the joint army, mostly the Kurdish and Arab militia, is currently fighting to retake Raqqa city. The SDF has now captured 65% of the city of Raqqa from IS.
The operation in eastern Deir ez-Zor province could bring the US-backed army closer to the Syrian army and the coalition forces that were moving towards breaking the IS blockade in the city of Deir ez-Zor.
The Syrian army, backed by the Russian air force and Iran-backed militia over the past week, has Partly broken up the nearly three-year IS siege in the city of Deir ez-Zor.
According to Reuters, the US-led coalition stressed that its activities were not aimed at waging war on Damascus.
