US-backed Syrian forces are battling a fierce counteroffensive launched by the Islamic State terror group in eastern Syria's Deir al-Zour province. <br />''<br />''<br />''The spokesman of Syrian Democratic Forces SDF  Mustafa Bali said the force responded after IS launched a counterattack earlier in the day. SDF had announced its final battle to crush IS on Saturday. The IS terror group is now holed up in a tiny pocket in Syria's eastern province near the Iraqi border.<br />''<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />