<span style="color: #222222;">US-backed fighters in Syria are facing resistance in the last enclave held by the Islamic State (IS) terrorists near the Iraqi border. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) spokesperson told reporters that the terrorists are defending their last stronghold in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">SDF had announced its final battle to crush IS yesterday after a pause of more than a week to allow some 20,000 civilians to leave the area.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights today reported heavy clashes between both sides, as coalition planes and artillery bombarded terrorists' positions.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">At its peak in 2014, the IS had established a 'caliphate' stretching across Syria and Iraq. Now, the terror group is holed up in a tiny pocket in Syria's eastern province near the Iraqi border.</span><br />