Gang members and families surrender in hundreds in Baghouz

As the final operation against ISIS gangs continue in Baghouz, hundreds of gang members and their families surrendered to SDF fighters.

According to Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) sources in Baghouz, some 400 to 500 people left the village to surrender to the SDF.

Most of those surrendering are from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and various Middle Eastern countries.

The ISIS members from Central Asia say they travelled to Syria over Turkey.

SDF Press Spokesperson Mustafa Bali issued a statement on Twitter shortly before these evacuations that the operation had been paused in one front in Baghouz.

Bali said the SDF foresaw opening a corridor to evacuate civilians used as human shields and ISIS members who wanted to surrender.

ISIS is trapped in a small area. From this small region, some 53.000 people have sought refuge with the SDF since early December. There are many women and children among them, as well as thousands of ISIS members who surrendered.