Fighters backed by Turkey have reportedly taken over the strategic ISIS stronghold of Dabiq in northern Syria after Islamic State jihadists surprisingly withdrew from the town.
The significant progress is part of a wider military operation (dubbed Euphrates Shield) completely backed by Turkey to oust the terror group from large swaths along the borders with Syria, as well as to curb the recent advance made by the US-backed Kurdish forces in northern Syria.
Located nearly 10 km from the southern borders of Turkey, Dabiq enjoys a symbolic significance for the ultraconservative jihadi group due to an ancient prophesy depicting Dabiq as an apocalyptic battleground between Islam and Christianity.
It also served as an iconic aspect of ISIS glossy propaganda as the organizations’ fist magazine.
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