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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Rebels capture 8 villages in Manbij operation |
| 2016-06-04 |
| [ARA News] MANBIJ – Western-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Friday continued its operation for Manbij city against the Islamic State (ISIS), and recaptured new areas from the radical group, military sources reported. The SDF operation for Manbij is led by the Manbij Military Council, formed by local fighters with the goal of liberating their areas from ISIS under the leadership of the SDF. “The Manbij Military Council has liberated ten new villages from ISIS terrorists, including Tal Arish Shimali, Janoubi, Halloula, Khirbat Zimala, Khirbat al-Rous, al-Sagawi, Mustafa Hammadi and Joutha,” the SDF leadership stated to ARA News. This progress comes after the SDF troops crossed to the western bank of the Euphrates River subsequent to bombing ISIS strongholds there. The Manbij operation continued on Friday with the support of the US-led coalition’s air cover. “Dozens of ISIS jihadis were killed since the start of the Manbij military campaign,” SDF officer Habun Osman told ARA News, without going further details. On Tuesday, the Kurdish-led SDF troops launched an operation to capture Manbij and it’s countryside from the extremist group of Islamic State (ISIS). The newly established city council of Manbij released a statement suggesting that the liberation is near. Speaking to ARA News, US-led coalition spokesman Colonel Christopher Garver said that for the US “it’s critical that the ISIS-held Manbij pocket of 98-kilometers is seized from the radical group”. “As to why the Manbij pocket is important, it represents a major border crossing point where foreign fighters can cross into Syria from Turkey,” Garver said. |
| Posted by:badanov |