The Islamic State has rejected an offer for its fighters to withdraw safely from the Syrian city of Manbij, and clashes with US-backed forces continued after the offer expired.
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Manbij is situated on a key supply route to the IS stronghold of Raqqa, and is therefore seen as a highly-strategic city in the fight against the terror group.
On Thursday, the Manbij Military Council – part of the SDF – said ISIL fighters were given 48 hours to leave the town with their “individual weapons”, saying this was their last opportunity to leave alive.
Darwish said later clashes were still going on after the expiry of the offer.
The commander pledged that his forces would “intensify our attacks on their remaining positions”.
The council urged IS to send a delegation from Manbij to discuss the matter.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that the SDF are progressing in the city “in several areas in Manbij city, amid more casualties among both parties”. More than half Syria’s population has been displaced since civil war erupted in 2011.
The US-led coalition has opened an investigation into the reports of civilian deaths, which have sparked condemnation including from Syrian activists and opposition groups.
The coalition has said it is investigating the reports of civilian fatalities in the town of Al-Tukhar, 14 kilometres from Manbij.
At question is a coalition bombing on July 19 in the Al Tokhar village near Manbij city in northern Syria.
It said their departure must take place within 48 hours and “this initiative is the only and the final one for the besieged Daesh elements to leave the city”, using an Arabic acronym for the jihadist group.
He estimated that the SDF had taken back roughly half the city, an area still housing at least 2,000 civilians.
Coalition spokesman Colonel Chris Garver said Friday that IS fighters were mounting an particularly tough defense, especially as SDF units pressed deeper into the town.
“During that portion of the fight, our SAC [SDF] partner force observed a large group of Daesh fighters in a convoy who appeared to be readying for a counter attack against SAC troops in the area, and a strike was called in on Daesh”, he added.
The coalition spokesman said that the US-led coalition applies an “extraordinary amount of rigor into our strike clearance procedures to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties or unnecessary collateral damage and to comply with the principles of the law of armed conflict”.
Repeated attempts by Washington and steadfast regime ally Moscow to reinforce a nationwide ceasefire have largely failed, with violence continuing.
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The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at least 56 civilians died, including 11 children.
