Civilian Presence Slows Offensive to Oust Islamic State in Syria by Isabel Coles – Wall Street Journal
The continued presence of thousands of civilians, including families of Islamic State fighters, is slowing a push by U.S.-backed forces to oust the extremist group from the last patch of territory it holds in Syria.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, backed by coalition airstrikes, began an offensive to take the eastern village of Baghouz two weeks ago after more than 20,000 civilians fled the area. Thousands more have left the village in recent days as the assault was paused to allow their passage.
At a gathering point in the desert outside Baghouz on Saturday, SDF fighters helped children and women covered in black onto open-air trucks to be transported to the al-Hol camp, the population of which has swollen to around 45,000 people in recent weeks…