Italian photographer hurt in Syria, returning to Italy

Rome, February 11 - An Italian photographer has been hurt in a battle at Syria's last ISIS bastion and is already returning to Italy, sources said Monday. Milan-born Gabriele Micalizzi, 34, was injured in the battle between hundreds of ISIS militiamen and advancing pro-US forces at Dayr az Zor, sources said. Micalizzi was taken to a local hospital before being flown by helicopter to Baghdad, sources said. "He was seriously injured in the face by RPG shrapnel but does not seem to be in a life-threatening condition, said the CesuraLab collective he is co-founder of. Micalizzi will be flown back to Italy as soon as possible, the Kurdish Syrian Rojava Information Center said. "He will be shortly repatriated to Italy on board a medical plane of the (US-led) coalition" that is fighting ISIS, Kurdish forces said.