BEIRUT (Reuters) - Remaining civilians in Islamic State’s last pocket in eastern Syria did not leave on Thursday despite earlier expectations they would, said an official in the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, after trucks sent for them came back empty.

The SDF will continue efforts to evacuate the remaining civilians said the spokesman, Mustafa Bali, a move it has said is required before it can conduct a military operation against the jihadists left there.