The "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) is using weaponised drones to hold off an Arab-Kurd alliance that is advancing in the Syrian town of al-Tabqa, AFP reported Wednesday (April 26th).
With air cover from the coalition, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were locked in clashes inside ISIL-held al-Tabqa on Wednesday, two days after entering the town for the first time.
They initially seized several positions in the town's south but have come up against fierce resistance from the group, including with weaponised drones.
ISIL fighters "are dropping makeshift explosives from drones onto SDF positions", said Syrian Observatory for Human Rights head Rami Abdel Rahman.
Fighting raged on Wednesday in al-Tabqa's southern neighbourhoods as SDF forces tried to build on their advance into the town on Monday.
"They are progressing slowly because it is all street battles. ISIL is using suicide attackers and car bombs and have riddled the town with mines," Abdel Rahman said.
