Syria troops close in on ISIS- held Manbij

Beirut/ Geneva, June 6: US-backed Syrian fighters have surrounded ISIS- held city of Manbij from three sides as they press an offensive against the jihadists near the Turkish border, a spokesman for the fighters said on Monday.

The Syria Democratic Forces ( SDF), including the powerful Kurdish YPG militia and Arab allies, launched the attack last week with the ultimate aim of dislodging ISIS it slast foothold at the Syrian-Turkish frontier.

Sharfan Darwish, spokesman for the Manbij military council, said the US- backed alliance had advanced to within 6 km of Manbij. Over 150 jihadists had been killed, with 50 of the bodies in SDF hands, he said.

“If we had wanted to reach ( Manbij) before this time, or if we wanted to arrive directly, we could have, but as you know the area is vast and there are a large number of civilians,” he said. “Our forces are surrounding Manbij from three directions.”

He said there were dead among the SDF and the number would be announced later.

Government troops and

A US- backed offensive around the Syrian city of Manbij risks displacing 2,16,000 people if it continues, in addition to 20,000 who have reportedly already been uprooted, the UN report said on Monday

militia also advanced on Syria’s largest dam with Russian air support on Monday, threatening to cut off the jihadists’ bastion Raqqa from the Turkish border, a monitor said.

Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian agency said in a report published on Monday that a US- backed offensive around the Syrian city of Manbij risks displacing 2,16,000 people if it continues, in addition to 20,000 who have reportedly already been uprooted.

The report said there was a possibility that people would “face impediments” to move out of ISIS- held areas and it was critical they received shelter, drinking water, food and healthcare.