With coalition air support the SDF pushed further into the city taking most of its eastern parts, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights conflict monitor reported on Sunday. They are now in control of the al-Jazira turning, Mestosaf neighbourhood, and Ghasania school, according to the Observatory.
Spokesperson for the SDF, Shervan Derwish, said that his forces are in control of more than 70% of Manbij.
At least 2,300 civilians in the city have been able to leave thanks to these SDF advances. ISIS has shot at civilians who attempted to flee.
Women who have made it out of Manbij have taken off their black robes and burned them, celebrating their freedom from Islamic State rule, according to images published by Derwish.
The SDF have had the city encircled for months now after beginning their offensive against ISIS militants in that region in late May. Seizing Manbij from ISIS will further isolate the group’s main stronghold in Syria, the city of Raqqa.
Progress into Manbij city has been slow in spite of the coalition air support. The SDF offered ISIS an ultimatum whereby the militants would be allowed safe passage out of the city with their light weaponry in order to save civilian lives. ISIS refused their offer and remains dug-in.
The US has come under severe criticism over reports that their airstrikes have killed civilians in that city.
On Friday the Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook addressed these concerns, emphasizing that air support to the SDF would continue and that ISIS are responsible for placing civilians in harm’s way.
“They [ISIS] are not taking steps to protect civilians – innocent civilian life,” Cook explained.
“Well, those local forces we’re supporting might have a different view if we weren’t conducting those airstrikes in their support,” he added. “I imagine you would be asking me some of the same questions if those forces came under attack from ISIL, because we weren’t providing some of the air support to them."
