. >> general mark hertling, great to have you with us.r expertise. >> thank you ana. >>> now exclusive footage of isis fighters with nothing to lose, making a bloody last stand in eastern syria. among them, thousands of women and children desperate to escape. i want to warn you, this story contains graphic images and very disturbing video. you may want to take your children out of the room for a few minutes. our cnn senior international correspondent ben wedeman reports. >> reporter: they're planning their next move in the final showdown with the last remnants of isis. the commander of the syrian democratic forces is leading his men on a night operation. their progress lit by flares into the last stronghold of what was the so-called islamic state. now reduced to remote and ever-shrinking sliver of land along the euphrates river in eastern syria. at first light, coalition aircraft begin to bomb. as troops venture into the town, or what's left of it. with the help of artillery and airplanes, we were able to take control of this place, this