Sporadic clashes rock Syria’s Manbij as deadline passes

AFP, BEIRUT: Islamic State group militants clashed Saturday with US-backed fighters in Syria’s Manbij, a monitor said, as a 48-hour deadline passed for the jihadists to leave the battleground town.
The ultimatum was issued Thursday by the Manbij Military Council, part of the Arab-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance that is fighting IS with support from a US-led coalition.
The jihadists are accused of using civilians as human shields in Manbij, located in the northern province of Aleppo on IS’s main supply route between Syria and Turkey.
“The 48-hour period is over, and there will be no more opportunities like this one for Daesh
(IS),” a Manbij Military Council commander told AFP on condition of anonymity.
IS has “not responded” to the SDF’s offer and had instead “attacked our positions” in Manbij, he said.

 

Sporadic clashes rock Syrias Manbij as deadline passes

AFP, BEIRUT: Islamic State group militants clashed Saturday with US-backed fighters in Syrias Manbij, a monitor said, as a 48-hour deadline passed for the jihadists to leave the battleground town. The ultimatum was issued Thursday by the Manbij Military Council, part of the Arab-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance that is fighting IS with support from a US-led coalition. The jihadists are accused of using civilians as human shields in Manbij, located in the northern province of Aleppo on ISs main supply route between Syria and Turkey. The 48-hour period is over, and there will be no more opportunities like this one for Daesh (IS), a Manbij Military Council commander told AFP on condition of anonymity. IS has not responded to the SDFs offer and had instead attacked our positions in Manbij, he said.