Baghouz battle intensifies as IS counter-attacks

Tension continues in Syria as IS militants are putting up a desperate fight against US-backed Syrian force. The IS militants firing mortar shells and rocket-propelled grenades.

Baghouz: US-backed Syrian forces said Islamic State (IS) militants are putting up a desperate fight against their advances and have staged a counterattack from the tiny speck of land the extremists still hold in eastern Syria.

A Syrian Democratic Forces (SDP) commander told The Associated Press that IS group militants are putting up "fierce resistance" by firing mortar shells and rocket-propelled grenades.

He also said a number of IS group fighters surrendered to the SDF.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said some 350 people left the IS-held area on Tuesday, including 120 fighters.

The group said those who left included citizens of Lebanon and Morocco.