SDF advance towards Manbij city centre

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region--The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) made further advances against Islamic State (ISIS) militants on Thursday, advancing to within just two kilometres from the city centre. 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor reported that the fighters were engaging ISIS militants in heavy clashes in Manbij’s western districts, only two kilometres from the city centre.

 
This marks the first time the SDF, a coalition of forces dominated by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), entered Manbij after capturing surrounding villages and farmland and laying siege to the city. 

Despite launching vicious counter-attacks against SDF positions, ISIS has been unable to break the siege and is steadily losing ground. 

The SDF launched their offensive against the strategically-important ISIS-held city just over three weeks ago. With Manbij under SDF control, ISIS will be completely off from the Turkish border. 

They are being supported in this offensive by US-led coalition air support and special forces’ advisors. 

Thursday’s clashes bring the total number of casualties in this campaign to 63 SDF fighters and at least 458 ISIS militants. 

Nearby in Raqqa province, ISIS repelled a Syrian regime offensive, kicking the Syrian army out of areas they had recaptured from the militants earlier this month.