January 17, 2019 - 18:41 AMT
Islamic State suffers defeat after losing stronghold in Euphrates

The Islamic State suffered a tremendous defeat Thursday, January 17, after the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) seized the key town of Al-Sousah in the eastern region of the Euphrates River Valley, Al-Masdar News reports.

According to reports from this front, the Syrian Democratic Forces were able to overpower the Islamic State fighters in Al-Sousah this morning, forcing them to ultimately fall back in order to avoid being completely overrun.

The loss of Al-Sousah is a devastating defeat for the Islamic State as they controlled this town and several others in the Euphrates River Valley for over four years.

Making matters worse for the Islamic State, they have only control four towns in their dwindling Euphrates River Valley pocket.

With the Syrian Arab Army and their Iraqi allies preparing to launch a major operation in the Badiya Al-Sham region of Syria, 2019 may prove to be the last time the Islamic State controls any significant portion of territory in the region.