Intense clashes broke out in the eastern region of the Euphrates River Valley on Sunday, February 17 following a new attack by an Islamic State sleeper cell in the town of Dhiban, Al-Masdar news reports.

According to reports from the front, the Islamic State sleeper cell attacked a group of fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Dhiban, resulting in fierce clashes and a number of casualties.

The reports said that at least nine SDF fighters were killed and several others were badly wounded as a result of the attack.

Meanwhile, at least three of the Islamic State terrorists were killed and two others captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces – the captured ISIS fighters were foreigners, the report added.

In response to the attack by the Islamic State, the Syrian Democratic Forces have sent reinforcements to Dhiban in an attempt to protect the town.