Victory in Manbij is close, SDF advancing on final 10% of city

Forces of the Manbij Military Council in northern Syria have almost taken full control over the city Manbij. The democratic forces succeeded in penetrating the city’s military square with the aid of the international coalition and are close to a final victory over ISIS. 

 

Naser Haj Mansour, the Syrian Democratic Forces adviser, confirmed Manbij is in the final stages of liberation. The military council forces are currently in control of over 90% of the city. 

  

"Manbij city is in the final stage of liberation. The city is not fully liberated, some ISIS members are trapped in a zone that is no more than 10% of the city's total area. The military council forces control 90% of the city,” Mansour said.

 

Forces of the Manbij Military Council have been engaged in fierce fighting with ISIS for control of the city since late May.

 

"We are now in Lamba circle. The security square is right in front of us. We also took over the old market prison and Dasho hospital. We are advancing westwards, towards Alserb, al-Mashtal and Amal hospital,”  said Omar Muzala, an SDF member.

 

The Manbij Military Council, a coalition overseeing the operation to liberate the city of Manbij from Islamic State (ISIS) is in control of more than 90 percent of the city.

 

Progress in the city is proceeding slowly as ISIS is using about 5,000 civilians as human shields in the small area they still control.

 

The council’s forces, drawn from the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), have taken Lamba circle, the old market prison and Dasho hospital. They are now advancing westwards.