Damascus, November 17 (RHC)-- An alliance of Kurdish and Arab forces has recaptured a large area in northeast Syria from the Takfiri terrorist group Daesh. A spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced that “between October 30 and November 13, an area of 1,362 square kilometers (545 square miles) was cleansed of IS (Daesh).”

Talal Ali Sello, who was briefing reporters in the newly recaptured town of al-Hawl, said the area included 196 towns and villages, some of them located along a strategic supply route connecting northeast Syria to the areas under the control of Daesh in neighboring Iraq.

Sello said the two-week operation saw 493 Daesh militants killed while 33 SDF fighters and four civilians lost their lives. He said dozens of Kurdish, Arab and Christian fighters have also been injured.

The SDF has been fighting Daesh since mid-October. It was formed out of an alliance between the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and other forces, including Arab and Assyrian fighters.