Clashes rock Manbij as IS ignores ultimatum

BEIRUT: IS militants clashed on Saturday with US-backed fighters in the Syrian town of Manbij, pursuing their fierce defence of the extremist stronghold and ignoring a deadline to leave.

There are growing fears for the fate of civilians trapped in Manbij, formerly a key stop along IS’s supply route from neighbouring Turkey into its self-styled “caliphate” in Syria.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) penetrated the town one month ago but have since been hindered by a bloody IS counter-offensive and concerns about the civilian population.

On Saturday, IS extremists appeared to ignore a 48-hour ultimatum to leave issued by the Manbij Military Council, a key member of the SDF. “The 48-hour period is over, and there will be no more opportunities like this one for Daesh (IS),” a commander from the council said on condition of anonymity.

IS has “not responded” to the SDF’s offer and had instead “attacked our positions” in the town, he said.

The ultimatum came after at least 56 civilians, including children, were reportedly killed on Tuesday in USled coalition air strikes near Manbij.

The commander pledged that his forces would “intensify our attacks on their remaining positions” there while working to “secure safe passages” for civilians looking to flee.

Thousands of civilians have al-

Ultimatum came after at least 56 civilians, including children, were reportedly killed on Tuesday in US-led coalition air strikes near Manbij

ready fled Manbij, which lies in Syria’s northern Aleppo province.

More than half of Syria’s population has been displaced since the country’s conflict erupted five years ago, and at least 280,000 people have been killed.

An SDF field commander inside Manbij said that clashes were rocking the flashpoint town on Saturday, with “the main battles near the security quarter in the centre of the town.”

The civilian deaths in Tuesday’s raids sparked an intense backlash from activists and rights groups, as well as a call from a prominent Syrian opposition body for the coalition to halt its air campaign until a thorough investigation is completed.

The coalition said it is investigating the reports of civilian fatalities in the town of Al Tukhar, 14 kilometres from Manbij. Bombing raids have meanwhile continued unabated, with the Pentagon reporting nine strikes near Manbij on Friday.