<p>US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces repelled</a> on April 11 an Islamic State counterattack on the recently captured al-Tabqa Airbase, which lies approximately seven miles south of the IS-held town of al-Tabqa.</p><p>The SDF first captured the strategic military airport in late March</a>; however, a spate of recent IS ambushes coming from southern al-Tabqa have hindered some advances towards the town.</p><p>That said, the SDF</a> said on April 11 that it had captured several villages east of al-Tabqa, including al-Ayaad</a>, where several IS fighters were said to have been killed after their tunnel leading towards al-Tabqa was discovered by the SDF.</p><br />
