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Syrian rebels drive back ISIS attack on Manbij
[ARA News]  Manbij – Militant fighters of the Islamic State (ISIS) launched on Monday an offensive on the Syrian northern city of Manbij, targeting positions of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).Manbij was liberated by the US-backed SDF forces in August after heavy fighting with ISIS militants. Since then, the SDF-led Manbij Military Council has been in control of the city and the surrounding villages. “Daesh militants attacked the town of Hawdan in Manbij suburb with mortar shells in an attempt to hit our defences and infiltrate into the city,” the media office of Manbij Military Council told ARA News, using an Arabic acronym for ISIS. Scores of SDF fighters were reportedly injured in the attack. “Subsequent to the offensive, fierce clashes broke out between our forces and ISIS militants. We were eventually able to repel the attack on Monday evening, after shelling the group’s fighting positions with heavy artillery,” the Manbij council said. At least 11 ISIS militants were killed in the clashes, before the rest of the group’s fighters withdrew from the area. The city of Manbij has served for over two years as a main ISIS jihadi pocket on the Syrian-Turkish border. Supported by the US-led coalition, the SDF liberated the city and its countryside in mid-August. Posted by: badanov 2016-11-29 |
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