Civilians still present in IS Syria pocket; US-backed forces to continue efforts

Remaining civilians in Islamic State's last pocket in eastern Syria did not leave on Thursday despite earlier expectations they would, said an official in the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces after trucks sent for them came back empty.

The SDF will continue efforts to evacuate the remaining civilians said the spokesman, Mustafa Bali, a move it has said is required before it can conduct a military operation against the jihadists left there.