The Latest: Kurds launch final push to defeat IS in Syria

BEIRUT (AP) — The Latest on the Syria conflict (all times local):
6 p.m.
U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian forces say they have begun the final push to defeat the Islamic State group in the last pocket it holds in eastern Syria.
Syrian Democratic Forces spokesman Mustafa Bali tweeted that the offensive began Saturday after more than 20,000 civilians were evacuated from the IS-held area in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour.
Bali says the aim of the current push is to end the military pr