US President Donald Trump Sunday called on his European allies to take back alleged jihadists captured in Syria, as Islamic State group fighters defended the last scrap of their "caliphate".

Donald Trump asks Europe take back jihadists, as IS in last stand in Syria

Syria's Kurds should start a dialogue with President Bashar al-Assad as their military allies the United States are readying to pull out, Russia said Sunday. "We support this dialogue between Damascus and the Kurds," said Russian deputy foreign minister Sergey Vershinin, whose country is a key backer of the Assad regime.

Russia says Syrian Kurds should start dialogue with President Bashar al-Assad

Russian President Vladimir Putin was set to host his Iranian and Turkish counterparts Thursday to discuss how to resolve the conflict in Syria as Islamic State jihadists made a last stand in the east of the country and Washington prepares to withdraw troops.

Russia, Turkey, Iran to hold Syria summit

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) began an assault against the final Islamic State enclave in eastern Syria on Saturday, aiming to wipe out the last vestige of the jihadist group's "caliphate" in the SDF's area of operations.

US-backed Syrian forces launch 'final battle' against Islamic State enclave

The Islamic State group made an aborted attempt to retake a village from US-backed forces in eastern Syria Thursday, a monitor said, leaving 50 fighters dead on both sides.

Dozens killed in failed IS counterattack in east Syria

US-backed, Kurdish-led forces are on the verge of eliminating Islamic State militants' last remaining enclave in Syria near the border with Iraq after a four-month devastating bombing campaign that has left hundreds of civilian casualties, residents and rebels said on Wednesday.

US-backed forces about to end Islamic State's last enclave in Syria

Over 600 people were evacuated Saturday from the Islamic State group's remaining holdout in eastern Syria, a monitor said, as US-backed fighters prepare for a final assault on the area.

600 people leave in first evacuation from Syria IS holdout: Monitor

An estimated 25,000 people have fled escalating violence over the last six months in eastern Syria, where die-hard jihadists are defending their last bastions, the UN said Friday.

25,000 flee violence in eastern Syria: United Nations

At least 23 forces of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed on Tuesday in a fight with the radical Islamist forces. The Islamist State could not retain their last bastion in eastern Syria in the fight which also killed nine jihadists.

IS counterattack in east Syria leaves 32 dead: Monitor

France has offered to mediate between Turkey and the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces, and assured the SDF of Paris’ support in stabilizing northern Syria, President Emmanuel Macron’s office said

Syria war: France's Macron offers to mediate between Turkey and Syrian Kurds

Erdogan blamed Washington for the presence in Manbij of fighters from the Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) and its Democratic Union Party (PYD) political wing

Erdogan warns US to quit Syria's Manbij

'The 'We will not give weapons' remarks from a U.S. president for the first time is important, but it will lose value if it is not implemented. It would be deceiving the world,' said the Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag

Trump must keep pledge on not arming YPG militia: Turkey

The Syrian Democratic Forces took Qadisia, located in the west of Raqqa, after three days of intense fighting

US-backed Syrian groups take Raqqa district from Islamic State

The SDF took the al-Sanaa industrial neighbourhood on Monday as part of their push into the eastern half of the city

US-backed Syrian fighters reach old city walls in Islamic State-held Raqqa

Syrian Democratic Forces spokesperson confirmed that the attack started on Monday

US-aided Syrian forces start IS-captured Raqqa offensive

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have seized 350 square km (135 square miles) in the past week

Syrian force 'tightens noose' on Islamic State in Raqqa: US-led coalition

The Raqqa campaign appeared to have stalled around?Tabqa, where the SDF made only slow progress after besieging the town. They pushed into the town nearly two weeks ago, capturing most of its districts and encircling Islamic State in the dam.?

US-backed Syrian militias 'capture' Tabqa from Islamic State

The Syrian Democratic Forces have taken the old quarters of Tabqa, which has Syria's largest dam. But the dam remains under IS' control despite them having control of just 20% of the city

US coalition ousts IS from vital town in Syria as part of Raqqa offensive

Turkey, Russia, Iran, US, the Kurds, anti-Assad militias are all fighting 'wars within the war' over?Raqqa as they eye the 'big prize'

Retaking Raqqa: The great game unfolds

The SDF has been the boots-on-the-ground against the IS for the past two years and is the main American ally in the Syrian conflict

US to give Syrian Democratic Forces armoured vehicles

Syrian forces' spokesman said it would proceed in two phases, first seizing areas around Raqa , then 'taking control of the city' itself

Syria: US-backed forces launch offensive to capture Islamic State's 'capital'

'People had fallen on the ground and I saw bodies torn to bits,' said one witness

Suicide attack on Syria wedding kills 22

Fleeing jihadists took around 2,000 civilians, yesterday to ward off air strikes as they headed to IS-held town of Jarabulus

Islamic State frees hundreds of 'human shields' in Syria

With support from Turkey and the US-led coalition, rebels in the northern province of Aleppo have been fighting for months to clear the Islamic State (IS) from the Aleppo countryside.

Turkey offers US joint Syria operation, without the Kurds