US-backed Syrian force seize control of Manbij

World Today

In Syria, a U.S.-backed alliance of Arab and Kurdish fighters has managed to free the city of Manbij from ISIL. It follows more than two months of fighting for control of the city, near the Syrian border with Turkey.

CCTV America’s Roee Ruttenberg has more.

Finally free from the stranglehold of ISIL, the people of Manbij made no effort to hide their emotions and their gratitude.

It took 73 days for an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, under the banner of the SDF, or Syrian Democratic Forces, to drive ISIL out of Manbij.

Manbij itself is not a very big city. But it’s positioning, close to the Euphrates River in the north, has made it a key supply route stop between Turkey and Raqqa, the Syrian city ISIL considers the capital of its so-called caliphate.

Many ISIL fighters and weapons, coming in and out of Syria, have passed through Manbij. Its loss marks a major set-back to the group.

Human rights monitors said that around 500 vehicles, containing ISIL fighters and their hostages, were seen fleeing Manbij, north, towards Jarablus, a town still held by the group.

A recent rebel-offensive has brought some gains to the opposition. But Moscow has accused the U.S. and Saudi Arabia of supplying cash and weapons to anti-Assad forces, which it said includes fighters from an al-Qaida offshoot.