ARA News

MANBIJ – The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Tuesday made new gains in its battle against the radical group of Islamic State (ISIS) in Manbij pocket on the Syrian-Turkish border, military sources reported.

Subsequent to clashes with ISIS militants, the Kurdish-led SDF captured the building of Transportation Department on the Manbij-Aleppo highway.

“The clashes continued until Tuesday evening. By midnight, our forces were eventually able to clear the transportation department’s headquarters of Aleppo province from the terror group,” SDF officer Habun Osman told ARA News.

Also on Tuesday, the Syrian Democratic Forces took over parts of the Hazawna district after entering the ISIS-held city of Manbij.

“After liberating the entire countryside of Manbij, where over 110 villages were freed from ISIS terrorists, the fighting has moved into Manbij city,” the SDF official said. “A large part of the Hazawna district in western Manbij is now under the SDF control. Soon we’ll hit the major security headquarters for ISIS in Manbij downtown.”

Officer Osman told ARA News that their troops are being careful during the clashes for fear of harming civilians.

“We are aware of the ISIS’ use of civilians as human shields. That’s why every SDF step is being well studied and prepared in order to hit ISIS directly without harming civilians,” he said.   

Reporting by: Ahmed Shiwesh

Source: ARA News