14 killed by ISIS attacks in Raqqa, Deir ez-Zoor

At least fourteen civilians and military men have been killed and many others were injured by ISIS attacks launched in villages of Deir ez-Zoor and Raqqa, local media reported.

Seven tribal elders and three PKK-affiliated members were killed on Saturday (March 2) after ISIS members assaulted the Syrian Democratic Forces' (SDF) Military Relations position in the village of Khaboor in Raqqa countryside.

Meanwhile, four SDF members were killed by an attack launched on Sunday (March 3) by what was reported to be ISIS terrorists in a military point near the water station in the city of al-Besira in Deir ez-Zoor eastern countryside.

The Kurdish-led SDF said on March 2 that they were advancing on two fronts at Baghouz in the countryside of Deir ez-Zoor.

Zana Amadi, an SDF commander, told the AP that "an active ground force" is advancing into ISIS-held territories as the extremists resort to sniper fire and booby traps.

AP reports that two helicopters for the US-led coalition were seen circling the area of fighting around noon on March 2. A loud explosion later was heard from a distance and thick black smoke billowed into the sky, apparently a coalition airstrike.