Islamic State (IS) fighters are using booby traps in a last-ditch bid to stop US-backed troops closing in on their final stronghold in Syria, according to forces fighting the terror group.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said "heavy fighting" was taking place on the outskirts of Baghouz but they "expect it to be over soon" as they advance on two fronts against IS in a final battle.

Heavy fighting continues at outskirts of #Baghouz at the moment. SDF made a remarkable progress since yesterday evening, recaptured many positions from ISIS.#SDFDefeatISIS pic.twitter.com/lt7pD8f4Yh — Mustafa Bali (@mustefabali) March 2, 2019

SDF commander Zana Amedi said an "active ground force" was advancing into IS-held territories and the extremists have resorted to sniper fire and booby traps.

Two helicopters for the US-led coalition were seen circling the area of fighting on Saturday, while a loud explosion was heard later and thick black smoke was seen billowing into the sky, apparently from a coalition airstrike.

Sky News senior correspondent Lisa Holland said IS were now cornered in "a tiny speck of land about half a kilometre square" having controlled a third of Iraq and Syria at one time.


"The SDF are saying that IS is on its last legs now, that defeat is imminent," she said.

"The demise of IS has been going on since about September."

Image: Women and children leaving Islamic State are searched by the SDF

The SDF resumed military operations to liberate the last piece of territory held by IS after evacuating thousands of civilians and hostages who had been trapped inside.

The military campaign to uproot IS from the eastern banks of the Euphrates River began in September, pushing them down toward a last corner in the village of Baghouz, near the Iraqi border.

Image: Women and children wait to be searched by members of SDF

It was halted on 12 February as the SDF said a large number of civilians and hostages were holed up in the territory.

More than 10,000 civilians had left the IS held area by Friday and the extremists released some SDF fighters they had taken prisoner in earlier battles.

Image: An SDF member speaks with a woman leaving Islamic State

Lisa Holland said: "Whether you have sympathy with these people - supporters of IS - or not, the reality is that there are lots of people needing food and medicine stuck in these camps in northern Syria."