YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters launched a cleaning operation against ISIS gangs in the village of Samra east of Raqqa Thursday afternoon.

16 ISIS members were killed and 3 others were captured alive during fierce clashes in the village which was fully cleared of the gangs afterwards.

SDF fighters had liberated Samra village a while ago but the gangs infiltrated into the village 3 days ago and used civilians as human shields.