Syria Kurdish forces close in on IS-controlled prison wing

U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces and a war monitor say fighters have begun closing in on the last wing of a prison in northeastern Syria that has been controlled by militants for days

BEIRUT -- U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters deployed inside a prison in northeast Syria on Monday, closing in on the facility’s last wing controlled by militants for days, the force and a war monitor said. The raid follows the surrender of hundreds of Islamic State fighters and aims to end one of the most brazen attacks by the group in years.

Forces took over buildings near the prison's northern wing, said Farhad Shami, a spokesman for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. That's where dozens of IS militants have been holed up since Thursday.

Shami said SDF forces advanced after about 300 IS militants surrendered early Monday.

Over a dozen Kurdish fighters and more than 100 militants have been killed in clashes since the assault began, according to the Kurdish-led force. The number of fugitives remain unclear.